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Last Updated: Monday, 10 October 2005, 16:26 GMT 17:26 UK
Quake survivors found in Pakistan
Rescue workers search for people trapped under debris in Balakot
A large part of the Balakot town is devastated
Six people, including a baby, have been pulled from wreckage in the Pakistani town of Balakot, some 48 hours after the earthquake hit.

Rescue workers are using heavy digging equipment to help extract survivors. Angry residents who have been digging with their bare hands want more help.

Some 400 children died in Balakot when schools in the area collapsed.

At least 20,000 people were killed in the 7.6-magnitude quake that hit Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Smell of bodies

Four women, an old man and a baby were rescued alive on Monday afternoon from the wreckage in Balakot, but for many of those pulled out, it was too late.

People carry a quake victim in Balakot
Local people are pulling at the wreckage using their hands

Over 80% of the buildings in the city have been levelled.

Three schools in the Balakot area, nearly 90km (55 miles) from the capital, Islamabad, are reported to have been particularly badly hit.

School children were settling down to morning lessons when the quake hit at 0850 (0350GMT) on Saturday.

The BBC's Andrew North in Balakot says local people have been pulling at the wreckage with little more than their hands. They are still finding bodies underneath.

"I saw two brought out and there are 12 more laid nearby. The smell of decaying bodies hangs in the air," says our correspondent.

Bulldozers

Meanwhile, people are angry at the authorities for not bringing food and help quickly enough.

"There are still 300 people trapped inside. An army official just passed this area. We told him that there were people trapped inside, but he did not take any action. There are not arrangements for medical treatment," said one survivor, as others denounced the army and the government.

"Today is the third day. Hundreds of our children have died. We cannot identify their bodies. Where does our Pakistan army spend 75% of the country's money?" asked another survivor.

Correspondents say rescue efforts have been hampered by the town's terrain - it is built on slopes rising sharply from a river.

Bulldozers are now being used to clear away the landslides that were blocking the road leading to the town.

A Chinese relief team with sniffer dogs is also up and running.




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