2005 Kashmir earthquake

2005 Kashmir earthquake

Clockwise from top left: Destroyed building, Muzaffarabad Pakistani soldiers unload relief supplies from a U.S. Navy helicopter, Balakot U.S. Navy Hospitalman holds an injured three-year-old boy, Shinkiari Destroyed building, Nardjan U.S. Army helicopter takes off after dropping off emergency aid at Rawalakot Airport, Rawalakot A tent village built to house displaced earthquake survivors, Shinkiari
Kabul Islamabad Delhi Lahore
UTC time	2005-10-08 03:50:40
ISC event	7703077
USGS-ANSS	ComCat
Local date	8 October 2005
Local time	08:50:39 PKT
Duration	60 seconds
Magnitude	7.6 Mw[1]
Depth	15 km (9.3 mi)[1]
Epicenter	34°27′N 73°39′E / 34.45°N 73.65°E / 34.45; 73.65[1]
Type	Oblique-slip
Areas affected	Pakistan, India, Afghanistan
Max. intensity	MMI XI (Extreme)[2]
Landslides	Yes[3]
Aftershocks	5.9 Mw  8 Oct at 03:57[4] 5.8 Mw  8 Oct at 03:58[5] 6.4 Mw  8 Oct at 10:46[6]
Casualties	86,000–87,351 dead[7] 69,000–75,266 injured[7] 2.8 million displaced[7]

An earthquake occurred at 08:50:39 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a territory under Pakistan. Its epicenter was 19 km northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, and 90 km north north-east of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and also affected nearby Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It registered a moment magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). The earthquake was also felt in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India and the Xinjiang region. The severity of the damage caused by the earthquake is attributed to severe upthrust. Although not the largest earthquake to hit this region in terms of magnitude it is considered the deadliest,^[8] surpassing the 1935 Quetta earthquake.^[9] Sources indicate that the official death toll in this quake in Pakistan was between 73,276^[10] and 87,350,^[11] with some estimates being as high as over 100,000 dead.^[10] In India, 1,360 people were killed, while 6,266 people were injured.^[12] Three and a half million people were left without shelter, and approximately 138,000 people were injured in the quake.^[13]

Kashmir is a region in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent, bordered by China to the north and east, India to the south, Pakistan to the west, and Afghanistan to the northwest.^[14] The region where the earthquake occurred crosses the political borders of Pakistan and India. This area has been prone to earthquakes for centuries, with the earliest recorded quake occurring in 1255 in Kathmandu.^[8] The Kashmir valley is completely surrounded by mountains, with the valley floor being 1850 meters above sea level, but the encircling mountains reach heights of 3000–4000 meters. Its unique geography makes it particularly prone to natural disasters including floods, windstorms, avalanches and landslides, fires and droughts. It is, however, particularly prone to earthquakes as it lies on top of active geological faults where two tectonic plates, the large Eurasian and small Indian tectonic plates collide. This collision forces the Indian plate under the Eurasian plate, causing movement of the earth's crust.^[15] The geological activity born out of this collision, also responsible for the birth of the Himalayan mountain range, is the cause of unstable seismicity in the region. leading to earthquakes. This region continues to experience frequent earth-crust movement and thirty-two seismic events were recorded in this area between January to June 2023.^[16] Several studies have been undertaken to determine the postseismic deformation following the earthquake.^[17][15] New lakes were formed as a result of the earthquake.^[18]

The earthquake had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme) evaluated in an area around the epicentre,^[2] between the towns of Muzaffarabad and Balakot. It was also assigned XI on the Environmental Seismic Intensity scale. Field surveys of heavy damage to buildings and other structures in Balakot determined that the Modified Mercalli intensity exceeded X. At Muzaffarabad, the intensity peaked at VIII–IX (Severe–Violent). Intensity VII–VIII (Very strong–Severe) was determined in the areas south of Muzaffarabad.^[19]

The maximum intensity in Bharat was VIII (Destructive) on the Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale (MSK), and was felt at Uri. MSK VII was felt in Kupwara and Baramulla. In Srinagar, the earthquake was felt with an MSK intensity of V. At areas where the seismic intensity was lower, collapses were documented.^[19] The earthquake was felt throughout central Asia, and as far away as Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Minor shaking was felt in Almaty, Kazakhstan.^[20]

There were many secondary earthquakes in the region, mainly to the northwest of the original epicentre. A series of strong aftershocks occurred near Muzaffarabad.^[21] As of 27 October 2005^[22] There had been more than 978 aftershocks with a magnitude of 4.0 and above that continued to occur daily. Since then, measurements from satellites have shown that mountain parts directly above the epicenter have risen by a few meters, giving ample proof that the Himalayas are still being formed and growing and that this earthquake was a consequence of that.^[23] By the end of 2005, a total of 1,778 aftershocks were recorded.^[24]

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Most of the devastation hit Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of Northern Pakistan. In AJK, the three main districts were badly affected, and Muzaffarabad, the state capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, was hardest hit in terms of casualties and destruction. Various factors combined to make this earthquake particularly deadly. Amongst other factors, it was characterized by massive landslides and rockfalls, affecting transport, with closure of essential roads and highways.^[11] The time of day when the quake occurred (8:50am) also contributed to the loss of life and devastation. As Saturday is a normal school day in the region, most students were at school when the earthquake struck. Many were buried under collapsed school buildings. In Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one collapsing school killed 350 students, while another school in the same district killed an additional 50 students.^[25] In total, approximately 19 000 of those who died in Pakistan, were school children who were inside when their schools collapsed.^[13] Many people were also trapped in their homes, and because it was the month of Ramadan, most people were taking a nap after their pre-dawn meal and did not have time to escape. Women made up a larger number of casualties than men, as many were inside, cleaning after the morning meal.^[26]

Hospitals, schools, and rescue services, including police and armed forces, were paralysed. There was virtually no infrastructure, and communication was badly affected. More than 70% of all casualties were estimated to have occurred in Muzaffarabad. Bagh, the second-most-affected district, accounted for 15% of the total casualties.^{[citation needed]} In Islamabad, the Margalla Towers, an apartment complex in sector F-10, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 70 inhabitants.^[27] One Egyptian and two Japanese were among the dead there.^[25] Local building construction practices, poor workmanship, economic constraints and design flaws^[28] meant that almost 780 000 buildings were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

The Pakistani government's official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although it is estimated that the death toll could have reached over 100,000. Approximately 138,000 people were injured, and over 3.5 million were rendered homeless. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to the collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter.^[22] About 200 soldiers were also killed in the epicentral area.^[25]

Reports indicate that entire towns and villages were completely wiped out in northern Pakistan, with other surrounding areas also suffering severe damage.^{[citation needed]}

"...A second, massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now," Kofi Annan said on October 20, with reference to the thousand remote villages in which people "are in need of medical attention, food, clean water and shelter and the 120,000 survivors that have not yet been reached."^[29]

According to Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz "made the appeal to survivors" on 26 October to come down to valleys and cities for relief,^[30] because bad weather, mountainous terrain, landslides and blocked roads are making it difficult for relief workers to reach each house and the winter snows are imminent." Cold weather increased the death toll for those who survived the earthquake, but were displaced and homeless.^[31]

At least 1,350 people were killed and 6,266 injured in Jammu and Kashmir, India.^[32][33][34] In Uri there were over 150 deaths.^[25] The tremors were reportedly felt as far away as Delhi and Punjab.

Four deaths were reported in Afghanistan, including a young girl who died in Jalalabad after a wall collapsed on her. The quake was felt in Kabul, but the effects were minimal there.^[35]

The national and international humanitarian response to the crisis was extensive. The local response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a testament to the resilience and solidarity of the affected communities. Immediately after the earthquake struck on October 8, 2005, local residents and organizations sprang into action to provide emergency aid and support to those in need. The government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) played a crucial role in coordinating relief efforts, distributing food, water, and medical supplies to the affected areas.^[16] Key infrastructure such as hospitals, mosques, markets, power lines, and government offices were severely impacted, necessitating immediate local action.^[26] One notable aspect of the local response was the spontaneous and immediate contribution of individuals and communities. People opened their homes to those who had lost theirs, and volunteers worked tirelessly to clear debris and provide assistance to the injured. Women, despite facing significant cultural and logistical challenges, emerged as critical first responders, providing food, building temporary shelters, and offering emotional support.^[31] Despite the challenges posed by the scale of the disaster, the local response demonstrated the strength of community bonds and the importance of grassroots efforts in disaster management. The collective action of local residents, government agencies, and NGOs was instrumental in providing immediate relief and setting the stage for long-term recovery and reconstruction. Medical rehabilitation services quickly intervened, providing assistive devices and customized prosthetics, which facilitated early recovery of the injured victims' functional and psychological states.^[36] The local response was also marked by the collaboration between various NGOs and international aid organizations, which helped to amplify the impact of relief efforts.

In the initial phases of response, the Pakistan Medical corps, Corps of Engineers, Army Aviation and a large number of infantry units played important roles. Lt. Gen Afzal, Maj. Gen. Imtiaz, and Maj. Gen Javid were the leaders of their formations. Maj. Gen Farrukh Seir was in charge of foreign relief coordination. The relief work in the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir was led by IAS officers of the state administration, Bashir Runyal and Jaipal Singh Law. In early 2006, the Government of Pakistan organized a donors' conference to raise money for the reconstruction and development of the area. A total of $6.2 billion was pledged and a large amount of the money was delivered in terms of services of international NGOs with high pay scales. The rest of the money pledged, which was given to the Government of Pakistan for reconstruction and development, was used by a reconstruction authority called Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority.

Well over US$5.4 billion (400 billion Pakistani rupees)^[37] in aid arrived from all around the world. US Marine and Army helicopters stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan quickly flew aid into the devastated region along with five CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the Royal Air Force that were deployed from the United Kingdom. Five crossing points were opened on the Line of Control (LOC), between India and Pakistan, to facilitate the flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the affected region, and aid teams from different parts of Pakistan and around the world came to the region to assist in relief efforts.^[38][39][40]

The United Nations was instrumental in coordinating international relief, with agencies such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme providing essential supplies, healthcare, and logistical support. UN humanitarian response teams assisted in setting up temporary shelters, distributing emergency food rations, and providing healthcare services in affected areas.^[41] The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies mobilized medical teams, relief supplies, and volunteers to reach remote and vulnerable communities.^[42] Additionally, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided financial assistance, which helped Pakistan manage economic challenges and supported longer-term reconstruction efforts.^[42]

Countries worldwide responded quickly with financial and logistical aid. Major contributors included the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, and Japan, who deployed rescue teams, medical personnel, and essential supplies such as tents, blankets, and portable medical equipment. For instance, the U.S. military supplied helicopters for search-and-rescue missions, essential for reaching mountainous and remote regions. Turkey, leveraging its prior experience with earthquake response, sent specialized teams for debris clearance and structural assessment.^[43]

Numerous NGOs, including Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children, and Oxfam, focused on providing medical care, clean drinking water, and temporary housing for displaced populations. NGOs were crucial in addressing the psychological and social needs of affected communities, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.^[44] The Gift of the Givers Foundation, for example, concentrated on delivering food, water, and medical supplies to remote areas that were difficult to access.^[13]

Despite substantial aid, logistical difficulties hindered efficient relief efforts. Limited infrastructure, combined with harsh weather and mountainous terrain, delayed the transport of supplies to remote areas. Additionally, coordination challenges among different organizations sometimes led to resource duplication and gaps in critical areas. These challenges underscored the need for improved disaster preparedness and response planning.

The 100,000 and more injured suffered from fractures, crush injuries and lacerations. Healthcare facilities were inundated, makeshift field hospitals were quickly established; However, the lack of adequate facilities, supplies and personnel significantly hampered medical response efforts.^[45] Temporary shelters and overcrowded camps coupled with inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, led to outbreaks of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases and measles. Respiratory infections were notably prevalent, exacerbated by the cold weather in the region, and poor insulation in camps (Naranjo, 2008). These conditions increased morbidity and mortality among the displaced.^[15] These conditions increased morbidity and mortality among the displaced populations.

The earthquake caused significant psychological trauma for survivors who endured the sudden loss of family members, homes and livelihoods. This experience triggered acute stress reactions in many individuals, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reflecting the deep psychological scars left by the disaster.^[46] The lack of mental health infrastructure in the affected areas compounded these problems as there were few resources available for trauma counselling or psychological support. Mental health clinic set up by non-governmental organisations provided some relief, but the support was often short lived to limited funding and resources. Cultural stigma surrounding mental health also discouraged individuals from seeking help further amplifying the psychological burden of the earthquake.^[47]

In terms of non-communicable diseases, exacerbation was observed in hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as access to routine health care services became severely disrupted. This disruption meant that individuals with chronic illnesses struggled to obtain necessary medications and medical care, leading to poor disease management and subsequent health complications.^[48] Long term mental health impact was also significant. Research conducted years after the earthquake found that many survivors were still experiencing symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders. These persistent psychological effects highlight the limited access to mental health resources in the affected regions and the cultural barriers preventing individuals from seeking mental health support.^[49]

The severity of injuries varied across regions, with mountainous and remote areas particularly affected. The geographical isolation of these regions made it challenging for rescue teams to provide timely assistance, leading to higher mortality rates in these inaccessible areas. Their rugged terrain and damaged infrastructure delayed the transport of critically injured patients to hospitals, increasing fatalities among the injured^[50]

Lower income populations faced greater hardship due to inadequate housing which was more vulnerable to collapse during the earthquake. These individuals also lacked financial means to rebuild their homes and lives post disaster, prolonging their exposure to hazardous living conditions and increasing their risk of health complications.

Women were more vulnerable especially those who were pregnant or had caregiving responsibilities faced additional health challenges due to their limited mobility and high risk of injury during the earthquake. In the aftermath women often struggled with mental health issues including depression and anxiety as they assumed the burden of caring for the injured family members while dealing with their own trauma and additional occurrence of domestic violence.^[51] Children were at a heightened risk of developing psychological issues, including PDST due to the traumatic experience of witnessing death and destruction.^[52]

1. A major lesson learned concerns the shift from disaster response to disaster preparedness (disaster risk reduction). The 2005 earthquake precipitated the adoption of a national DRR policy
2. Another lesson learned - for this specific case - would be that disease surveillance and monitoring are not the highest priorities in terms of disaster response - ensuring rapid provision of shelter, clean water, cash transfers and mental health support (gender sensitive) are more critical in the initial stages.
3. Foreign mobile hospitals were effective in providing temporarily higher quality of health care but better equipped and staffed local health facilities are best positioned for providing timely immediate emergency trauma care and are more sustainable
4. The timing of the earthquake (8h50 am) meant that women and children were disproportionately affected by the earthquake. Children in their critical first thousand days at the time of the earthquake accumulated large height deficits, with the youngest the most affected. Most severe deprivation (PTSD, nutrition) noted in women/children located closest to the fault line.
5. (Need for) strengthening the emergency first aid capacity of local medical volunteers and equipping local health facilities with spinal boards to reduce incidences of paralysis during transfers to medical facilities

• 2019 Kashmir earthquake
• Disaster Management Act, 2005
• List of earthquakes in 2005
• List of earthquakes in Afghanistan
• List of earthquakes in India
• List of earthquakes in Pakistan
• Meena – "Life Smiled Again"
• October 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake

• Pathier, E.; Fielding, E. J.; Wright, T. J.; Walker, R.; Parsons, B. E.; Hensley, S. (2006), "Displacement field and slip distribution of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake from SAR imagery" (PDF), Geophysical Research Letters, 33 (L20310): L20310, Bibcode:2006GeoRL..3320310P, doi:10.1029/2006GL027193

• Television series 'Earthquake Diaries' on the rescue efforts
• The Earthquake and the U.S. Response – Institute for Policy Studies
• When The Earth Moved Kashmir – NASA Earth Observatory
• The Kashmir Earthquake of October 8, 2005: Impacts in Pakistan Archived 26 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
• The Earthquake of 8 October 2005 in northern Pakistan – George Pararas-Carayannis
• Remembering Oct 8, 2005: The day the earth shook – Dawn
• The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
• ReliefWeb's main page for this event.