Ian Woolverton
2005 pakistan earthquake
In October 2005, a devastating earthquake struck Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), claiming thousands of lives and leaving communities in ruins. Read my account of this tragic event, published by CNN.
The town of Balakot, located closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, was once a popular alpine tourist destination and the gateway to the picturesque Kaghan Valley. Tragically, it was completely obliterated by the disaster.
A trader in the crumpled town of Balakot.
With the roads to Balakot blocked by boulders, local residents relied on air drops from the military.
Clothing was scattered everywhere, dropped from helicopters by the Pakistan military.
Apart from the crumpled concrete and rubble, very little remained of the town. Buildings that once housed families, shops, and schools were reduced to piles of debris.
It might seem strange to prioritise getting cleanly shaven in the aftermath of the earthquake, but practicing personal hygiene can improve an individual’s mental health by providing a sense of routine and control during a chaotic time, helping survivors cope with stress and trauma.
As winter approached, the authorities made the decision to drop clothing from helicopters for survivors to collect.
Recognising the urgent need for warmth in the face of plummeting temperatures, they coordinated airdrops to reach those in remote areas still grappling with the aftermath of the disaster. Brightly coloured bundles of clothing descended from the sky, as earthquake survivors rushed to gather the supplies.
A body freed from the rubble is carried on a wooden door down the street.
Survivors endured the coldest months housed in winterised tents.
Here I am, leaning against a jeep donated to the Pakistan Red Crescent by the Spanish Red Cross.