An estimated 30,000 people were killed in the powerful earthquake in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the region's Minister for Works and Communication Tariq Farooq said on Sunday.

According to rough estimates, "more than 30,000 people have died in the earthquake in Kashmir," the region's minister said.

"There are cities, there are towns which have been completely destroyed. Muzaffarabad is devastated," he added, referring to the capital of the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Around 3,000 people were killed by the quake in Muzaffarabad.

A Pakistani military spokesman said earlier that at least 18,000 people were killed and 40,000 people injured in the strong earthquake on Saturday morning.

Major General Shaukat Sultan told private Geo television on Sunday that across the country, 17,000 people were killed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and 1,000 more in Punjab and North West Frontier province.

Source: Xinhua