Sunday, October 9 2005 14:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: An estimated 30,000 people were killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir by a massive earthquake, the region's Minister for Works and Communication Tariq Farooq told sources today (Oct 9, 2005).

"Our rough estimates say more than 30,000 people have died in the earthquake in Kashmir," he said. Pakistan's military said earlier that at least 18,000 died in the 7.6 magnitude quake that hit yesterday (Oct 8, 2005).

"There are cities, there are towns which have been completely destroyed. Muzaffarabad is devastated," he added, referring to the capital of POK.

Around 3,000 people were killed by the quake in Muzaffarabad.

The worst hit place was Bagh, 40 kilometres southeast of Muzaffarabad, Farooq said. Between 6,000 and 7,000 people are estimated to have died in the town and adjoining areas, Farooq said.

"There are no survivors in villages like Jaglari, Kufalgarh, Harigal and Baniyali in Bagh district," Farooq said.

"People have been devoured by the earth."

Pakistan's Minister For Kashmir Affairs, Faisal Hayat, said that half of Kashmir has been 'severely affected by the earthquake'.

"Out of a population of 2.4 million more than half is affected," apparently referring to those displaced, injured or killed.