29 January 2001 Red Cross Mobilizes Field Hospitals and Shelter For Victims of Indian Earthquake Reports estimate that more than 25,000 people may still be buried under the rubble of towns such as Bhuj and Ahmadabad in the Indian State of Gujarat, where an earthquake which measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck on early Friday morning. In Bhuj alone, those injured are estimated at 33,000. Federation delegate, Patrick Fuller, drove into Bhuj at 2 a.m. this morning. It was very, very eerie like coming into a ghost town. There was an aftershock at 6 a.m. which scared people.
People are confused and in a real state of shock.
No one has slept for 48 hours and 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.