Emily So and Stephen Platt conducted a field trip in June 2006 to the areas affected by the Pakistan earthquake of 8 October 2005. The funding was provided by EPSRC. They interviewed senior people in Islamabad responsible for coordinating the relief and reconstruction and visited the areas affected by the earthquake. They saw various reconstruction projects and implemented a survey of survivors to collect data about injuries in relation to building failure and rescue.

They visited Muzaffarabad and Balakot and saw many signs of life returning. But many families were still living in tents and they badly need money to be released to rebuild their homes and clear advice about recommended construction.

A lot of people died in the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. The latest figures are 90,000 dead and over 100,000 injured. These may be underestimates, it is impossible to know. This relatively high death toll was due to widespread building failure and delay in providing immediate rescue and medical aid.

The field trip report seeks to answer two key questions: Why did so many buildings collapse? Why was immediate relief so slow in arriving?

The report also discusses the policy implications for long-term reconstruction.

Download Field Trip Report (PDF 1.8Mb) - [Pakistan Trip Report]