Minimum of 2500 deaths from Nepal earthquake
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After a 7.9 earthquake that struck near Kathmandu, Nepal authorities said Sunday that at least 2,430 people in that country had died in Nepal alone, not including the 18 people that the Nepal Mountaineering Association says died in an earthquake-triggered avalanche on Mount Everest, plus another 61 people in India and a few in other neighboring countries.
- Powerful aftershocks today between Kathmandu and Everest unleashed more avalanches in the Himalayas and caused panic in the capital, where hospital workers stretchered patients out into the street as it was too dangerous treat them indoors.
- At least 18 people believed to have been killed on Everest, and 61 injured, by an avalanche which left mountaineers calling for helicopter assistance to evacuate the most badly wounded.
- The quakes caused widespread damage to Nepal’s infrastructure which has further hampered search and rescue operations. Many historic landmarks, including the Dharahara tower, have been reduced to rubble following the quake.
- Governments are scrambling to locate thousands of their nationals and relatives took to social media to find their loved ones.
- The international community has also pledged support and aid packages to Nepal. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has said the US will pledge $1m to the aid effort and will also assist with a disaster response team. Australia has also pledged a Aus$5m aid package, while India, Sri Lanka, the UK, China and others are all sending disaster response teams to assist in search and rescue.
- Weather reports suggested that survivors of the quake – who are sleeping outside because of fear of unsafe building – will face heavy downpours in the next week.
This entry was posted in Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation by Grant Montgomery.