ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Federal information minister Nisar A. Memon said here on Friday the government had launched a massive relief and rescue operation in the Northern Areas hit by an earthquake on Thursday.

The minister, who is also the chief executive of the Northern Areas and had visited the affected areas, told a press conference that the earthquake, which left 23 people killed and a number of others injured, also damaged over 1,000 houses, rendering around 6,000 people shelterless.

The villages of Dashkin and Mushin in Astore valley, some 60 kilometres west of Gilgit, were the worst-affected areas, he added.

He also announced launching of a Northern Area Chief Executive Relief Fund, appealing to the nation as well as the international relief agencies to contribute in this fund.

The area, Nisar said, was prone to the quakes and the tremor badly damaged roads, hindering any relief efforts by land routes.

Two MI-17 and one Puma and Lama helicopters were engaged in relief operation, he further said, adding that on Friday a C-130, carrying 500 tents and 4,000 blankets, was flown to Gilgit from where the relief goods were dispatched through helicopters to the affected areas.

Two more C-130 with relief goods were being dispatched. The relief goods worth Rs10 million had already been distributed among the people hit by the tremor on Nov 3.

However, he said, this time around, Rs100 million worth relief efforts would be required.

The Northern Areas chief executive said he had ordered setting up of warehouses where relief goods would be stored for their onward distribution. These warehouses would also cater to any future needs, he added.

Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs secretary Javed Ashraf said four NGOs — UK-based Islamic Relief, International Islamic Relief, Concern and Catholic Relief — had also committed 2,000 tents, 7,000 blankets, clothing for children and large food supplies which would be enough for 6,000 people for a month.