Night terrors: Tremors jolt residents from slumber
Still recovering from Oct 26 quake, residents spend another cold night out in the open
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MINGORA:
As the earth trembled under their feet yet again, hundreds of people rushed out of their homes in Swat. Sunday night’s earthquake spread panic among residents who had a similar experience less than a month ago on October 26—with devastating consequences.
At least 36 people were killed, over 25 injured and more than 11,800 residential properties were damaged or destroyed in the October quake.
DC Saleem Marwat said he directed the district administration to assess the damage, if any, from Sunday’s tremors. He said officials reported back to him on Monday morning and said there were no casualties reported.
Freezing under the stars
Hundreds of people in Mingora, Kabal, Matta, Shamozai, Charbagh, Khwazakhela and Bahrain tehsils spent the entire night under the open sky, exposed to the chilling winter.
Gulzada alias Tanzaray, an elder from Bahrain, said most houses were partially destroyed by the previous earthquake. He added although there was minimal damage caused by these tremors, Sunday night’s quake terrorised the locals who rushed out of their homes. People expected the earth to rip from the seams yet again as memories of the previous quake came rushing back.
Matiltan resident Syed Akbar said he and his wife, along with their four young children, spent the whole night out in the cold as “cracks had appeared in the roof of the house due to the previous jolts.”
Jamal Khan, a Gabral resident, said he and 50 others from the village spent the night in the snow as they were too afraid to return indoors. As this has become the norm in such incidents, rumours started spreading. This time the murmurs suggested there would be a huge aftershock within an hour. He added his neighbours spent the night in the mosque.
Zahidullah from Gulkada said most people in Makanbagh, Landikas, Amankot, Gulkada, Saidu Sharif and College Colony rushed to mosques soon after the earthquake and prayed through the night. He said the women remained at home and also recited verses from the Quran.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2015.
As the earth trembled under their feet yet again, hundreds of people rushed out of their homes in Swat. Sunday night’s earthquake spread panic among residents who had a similar experience less than a month ago on October 26—with devastating consequences.
At least 36 people were killed, over 25 injured and more than 11,800 residential properties were damaged or destroyed in the October quake.
DC Saleem Marwat said he directed the district administration to assess the damage, if any, from Sunday’s tremors. He said officials reported back to him on Monday morning and said there were no casualties reported.
Freezing under the stars
Hundreds of people in Mingora, Kabal, Matta, Shamozai, Charbagh, Khwazakhela and Bahrain tehsils spent the entire night under the open sky, exposed to the chilling winter.
Gulzada alias Tanzaray, an elder from Bahrain, said most houses were partially destroyed by the previous earthquake. He added although there was minimal damage caused by these tremors, Sunday night’s quake terrorised the locals who rushed out of their homes. People expected the earth to rip from the seams yet again as memories of the previous quake came rushing back.
Matiltan resident Syed Akbar said he and his wife, along with their four young children, spent the whole night out in the cold as “cracks had appeared in the roof of the house due to the previous jolts.”
Jamal Khan, a Gabral resident, said he and 50 others from the village spent the night in the snow as they were too afraid to return indoors. As this has become the norm in such incidents, rumours started spreading. This time the murmurs suggested there would be a huge aftershock within an hour. He added his neighbours spent the night in the mosque.
Zahidullah from Gulkada said most people in Makanbagh, Landikas, Amankot, Gulkada, Saidu Sharif and College Colony rushed to mosques soon after the earthquake and prayed through the night. He said the women remained at home and also recited verses from the Quran.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2015.