Massive blast 'triggered panic'

Survivors of a series explosions set off by a fire in a village in northern Pakistan have spoken of scenes of devastation.

Abdul Wahab Khan, who was injured in the blasts, said he was woken up by the noise.

"I rushed out of the house and saw people's bodies flying in the air," he said.

The blast was massive, it triggered panic among the rescue workers Abdul Bar, eyewitness

Another witness beat his chest in grief as he recalled how the village was destroyed.

"The whole village is in mourning. We are ruined," said Habib-ur-Rehman.

"We have dug at least 40 graves for the burial of our loved ones, and the whole village and people from nearby villages have taken part," he said.

Hamid Khan, a doctor at nearby Chilas hospital said dozens of people had been treated for injuries.

"It was an unprecedented big disaster in the area," he said.

Abdul Bar, who lost a cousin in the disaster, said the search for survivors had been hampered by the ferocity of the explosions.

"The blast was massive, it triggered panic among the rescue workers."

Another survivor, Jumma Khan, said people did not have time to escape from their homes.

"Many people were buried inside the demolished houses," he said.