Local estimates put at 25,000 the number of people buried under the rubble of towns such as Bhuj and Ahmadabad in the Indian State of Gujarat which was struck by an earthquake which measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale early Friday morning. A massive mobilisation of resources is taking place through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at the request of the Indian Red Cross including two field hospitals with 350 beds and medical support teams. Federation delegate, Patrick Fuller, drove into Bhuj at 2 a.m. this morning. People had lit fires and were huddled around them, out in the streets, frightened to go back into their homes. There was an aftershock at 6 a.m. which scared people.
People are all confused and in a real state of shock.
No one has slept for 48 hours, there's very little food available. Warehouses have been looted and most shops are closed. Red Cross assessments are getting underway in some of the worst-affected towns within a 100 km radius of Bhuj. An Indian Red Cross team has gone to Bhacau to assess the situation amidst concern that it could be as bad as Bhuj, according to Red Cross officials on the ground. An assessment team will also visit the town of Anjar.