Quake kills hundreds in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India

(Vatican Radio) More than 300 people have been killed and thousands injured by an earthquake Monday in impoverished regions of northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:

Most of the casualties from the earthquake were in Pakistan where hundreds were killed by the quake. Fatalities have also been reported in Afghanistan and the India-controlled Kashmir region. 

In an interview with Vatican Radio’s Ann Schneible, executive director of Caritas Pakistan, Amjad Gulzar, said Caritas is in the process of sending relief. He added, however, that much of the affected region is difficult to access.

“Most of the areas are hilly areas, mountainous areas, so the access is actually an issue. So, people are in a very difficult situation,” he said.

Pakistan officials have said they do not intend to request international assistance since the country has the needed resources to cope with the disaster.

However, Gulzar observed that the crisis is still developing. “Keeping in view the situation, if it gets worse, it may be the possibility of requesting foreign and international aid.”

Listen to Vatican Radio’s full interview with Amjad Gulzar of Caritas Pakistan:

The epicenter of the 7.5-magnitude quake was beneath the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan's sparsely Badakhshan province which is the country’s poorest region.

As part of the disaster relief efforts for those affected by the quake hundreds of people may be forced to sleep in tents out doors in freezing temperatures in anticipation of aftershocks.

The United States said it has emergency shelters and relief supply kits stored in warehouses throughout Afghanistan that could be used.

Officials say Pakistan will not issue any appeals to the international community for help as the country has the required resources to carry out the rescue and relief work.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was completing a trip to the U.S., said in a televised comment from London that he planned to fly to the quake-affected region today.  

Many Pakistanis remember the 2005 7.6-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 80,000 people and left more than 3 million homeless.

This report has been updated.