|
Pakistan quake death toll over 73,000
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-02 21:28
The official death toll in Pakistan from the Oct. 8 earthquake jumped to more
than 73,000, with about the same number listed as severely injured, the army's
disaster relief chief said Wednesday.
Top relief official Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan said 73,276 people have been
confirmed dead in Pakistan, up from the 57,597 announced earlier. More than
69,000 people sustained severe injuries, with the total number of injuries much
higher, he said.
The announcement brings the government's numbers more in line with those
being used by local officials, who have been saying for more than a week that
they believed at least 79,000 people died in Pakistan. Another 1,350 died in
India's portion of Kashmir.
No reason was given for the sudden spike, but the government has been
proceeding cautiously in its official count. Many areas in the quake zone have
still not been reached, and the death toll is expected to rise
further.
|
