Kashmir Earthquake

Over 86,000 people died and 3 million people were left homeless by the earthquake that shook the Pakistani and Indian regions of Kashmir. Preoccupied by the news of other natural disasters, the international community was slow to respond to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake. Harsh winter conditions and mountain landslides hampered relief efforts in many areas. Survivors from remote villages hiked for days, carrying injured and dead family members to the Pakistani town of Balakot where helicopters eventually arrived to airlift people to better medical facilities. (October, 2005)