More than 4,000 dead in Nepal earthquake

More than 3,200 people have lost their lives and more than 6.000 have been injured in Nepal after a 7,9 Richter earthquake hit the region at 11:40 AM local time on Saturday, toppling buildings in the capital, Kathmandu, and triggering avalanches in the Himalayas.

Authorities said on Monday that the death toll had risen to over 3,200, while 50 fatalities were reported in northern India, 17 in Tibet and 4 in Bangaldesh.

On Sunday a new 6,6 Richter quake caused new avalanches. 

Map of the region. / BBC

Authorities warned there were also likely to be significant casualties in the remote districts nearer the epicentre of the earthquake in the Barpak Larpak region, 50 miles north-west of Kathmandu. “90% of 1,000 houses have been destroyed” there, according to a government official.

The quake was between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long, and several

The country’s deputy prime minister, Bamdev Gautam, has declared a state of emergency and appealed for humanitarian assistance across the region. Many countries have already sent humanitarian experts and financial aid. 

“I COULD ONLY PRAY TO GOD FOR MY LIFE”

Subarna Khadka, 44, of New Baneshwor, was bathing when the first tremor struck. “I tried to come out hurriedly when I experienced the shake, but couldn’t come outside as the door was jammed,” he said. “I almost lost my hope of life, as I was trapped in the bathroom. But my wife rescued me once the shaking got quiet. I could only pray to God for life.”

People sleep outside on a street in Kathmandu. / EPA

Victims at the hospitals were lying in rows on mattresses, surrounded by blood-soaked tissues and overflowing bedpans. Patients also lined the corridors, hooked up to IVs hanging off metal railings. A witness sais: “There are not enough rescue teams here. The hospitals are out of control. We need help”.

Hundreds

Many injured had to be trated on the streets. Some media reported about several hospitals being damaged by the earthquake and in risk to collapse, too. 

FOREIGNERS DEAD IN EVEREST AND DHARHARA

In the Everest base camp, in which about 1,000 people were hoping to climb the world’s highest peak, the quake caused avalanches which surprised many hikers, killing at least 18 according to Nepalese authorities.

Injured hikers in Everest base camp being rescued.

Kathmandu’s Dharhara tower, a very popular tourist site, also collapsed, raising fears of significant loss of life. Two police officers at the 60-metre tower said up to 160 tickets had been issued to visitors at the time of the quake.

WORST EARTHQUAKE IN 81 YEARS

Nepal suffered its worst recorded earthquake in 1934, which measured 8.0 and all but destroyed the cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan, killing more than 8,500 people. It was hit by another deadly earthquake in 2011, when at least five people died.

On Monday humanitarian teams and aid was starting to arrive to Nepal from neighboring countries India and China, as well as from Japan, USA, the European Union and many individual countries.