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International aid, rescue teams and relief supplies have begun pouring into Pakistan as world leaders pledged continued support for the devastated country after Saturday's massive earthquake, report some web sites.
Official estimates of the death toll are still fluctuating. At least 18,000 people have been killed and 41,000 injured, although one estimate put the number of deaths as high as 30,000.
The powerful earthquake - 7.6 on the Richter scale - tore through Pakistan and reverberated across India and Afghanistan early on Saturday morning.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi, about 1100 kilometres from the epicentre, it was strong enough to make buildings sway for at least a minute. About 350 Indians have been killed in the earthquake, predominantly in Kashmir.
While tremors were felt as far away as Kabul and New Delhi, mountainous northern Pakistan took the brunt of the impact.
The quake's epicentre was in Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir, where villages and even small towns are believed to have been wiped off the map by land and mudslides. The town of Uri was completely flattened.
Rescue efforts are well under way in the Himalayan foothills with supplies being flown in and the injured being flown to hospitals.
But these efforts are being severely hampered by the remoteness of many of the affected villages, badly damaged roads, and heavy rainfall.
Unable to use much road transport, the Pakistani military is being restricted to using helicopters, which is limiting the deployment of heavy earth-moving and other necessary machinery.
Kashmir is a heavily militarised area, with Pakistan and India claiming sovereignty over the territory. Both countries have numerous bases in the region. Ironically this helped the rapid deployment of soldiers as part of the rescue effort.
Political tensions over Kashmir appear to have been put on hold with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoning Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to offer help. There have also been reports of extraordinary co-operation between the opposing military forces in the disputed region.
The United States, which counts President Musharraf as a key ally in its war against terrorism, will provide $US100,000 in emergency aid and has offered to send in military helicopters. "Our initial deployments of assistance are under way and we stand ready to provide additional assistance as needed," President George Bush said.
Prime Minister John Howard said the Government would provide further assistance if needed. "It's an appalling natural disaster and our thoughts are very much with the people of Pakistan in particular, and Afghanistan and India," he said.
World Vision Australia and Oxfam Australia have also launched appeals. Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bruce Billson said the AusAID money, being delivered through Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, would help provide food and water, medical aid and shelter.
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