Death toll from Nepal earthquake climbs to 1,896
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E-mail Xinhua, April 26, 2015
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| Buildings collapsing in quake are seen at the Durbar Square in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, April 25, 2015. [Zhou Shengping/Xinhua] |
A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal at midday on Saturday. The powerful quake, which was followed by at least 14 aftershocks, also jolted parts of India, and was felt in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
At least 300 bodies were retrieved from damaged buildings in the capital.
Meanwhile, a total of 17 bodies have been recovered from a base camp on Mount Qomolangma where hundreds of mountain climbers are stranded after the earthquake. The quake triggered an avalanche which buried the base camp.
Xinhua reporter in the capital said the Kathamandu airport now is in chaos where people are rushing to leave after the devastating quake.
In Kathmandu, thousands of people had spent the night in pavements, parks and fields for fearing of aftershocks, Xinhua reporter said. A 6.6-magnitude aftershock struck about an hour later after the initial tremor.
Four Chinese nationals, including two workers with a Chinese company, a mountain climber and a tourist, were killed and five others seriously injured in the quake, the Chinese Embassy confirmed.
Rescue operations are underway by the Nepal Army, Police and Armed Police Force but they are slow in the remote areas of the country due to lack of equipment.
An emergency cabinet meeting has announced 29 districts in the country as crisis zones, according to the Home Ministry.
Amid the devastating disaster, the government of Nepal has appealed for assistance from the international community.
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