Liam Byrne : Labour MP for Hodge Hill : Hodge Hill Issues

7.6 earthquake (depth 10 kilometres) hit at 08.50 Pakistan time (03.50 GMT), with the epicentre in the Muzaffarabad area, 95km north-northeast of Islamabad (highly populated). Northern end of Indo-Eurasian plate.
Tremors felt in Pakistan, N. India, and Afghanistan.
Severe damage in Muzaffarabad area of Pakistan Kashmir and Indian Kashmir.
Reports of rain hampering relief operations. Aftershocks continue.
18,000 reported dead, 44,000 injured (Government), primarily in Pakistan administered Kashmir.
International assistance requested by Pakistan at 00.00 GMT 9 October.

DFID response to date
We have responded to all requests received so far and have committed well over half a million pounds (£500,000) of direct assistance. We stand ready to respond to further needs as their nature and scale emerges over the next few days.
A first Search and Rescue team from Rapid (an NGO) left at 6pm (UK time) on Saturday and has started work immediately, they have already been involved in rescuing people from a tower block in Islamabad. DFID is funding this team’s activities. They were the first international search and rescue team to arrive and start working in Pakistan following the earthquake.
DFID chartered a plane to take more search and rescue teams, emergency supplies and specialists from DFID and FCO to help with the relief effort.
The flight left East Midlands airport early Sunday morning (3am) and arrived at Chaklala, Pakistan Air Force base, in Islamabad, at around 10:50am Sunday, UK time. One of the teams travelling on this plane has now already transferred to and started work in Muzaffarabad.