NW Pakistan suffers most after deadly quake

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

With communication networks restored in northwest Pakistan, details of widespread devastation are pouring in following Monday’s massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

The numbers of human casualties in Pakistan and Afghanistan stands at close to 400.

Infrastructure has been badly damaged, leaving many worried of the fate of those whose houses were destroyed as the cold weather approaches.

Most villages and towns in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) province were damaged by the quake, some more severly than others.

Northern Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Malakund, and Dir district were the worst-hit areas, where officials said nearly 5,000 houses, buildings and shops were destroyed.

The state government of KP province said Thursday that it needs the help of the international community, especially NGOs, as the amount of damage is “too huge.”