Counting the Victims of the Earthquake in Nepal
In South Asia, a country bordering the Himalayas known as Nepal has been a favorite for travelers. With a colorful ancient and medieval history, Nepal has also been a stopping point for adventurers looking to summit Mt. Everest. Recently, more than a quarter of the country’s population has been affected by a devastating earthquake, shaking the foundations of many a historic site as well as causing massive avalanches that claimed lives on Mt. Everest nearby.
Image Source: CNN
The earthquake in Nepal has been the most devastating natural disaster for the Himalayan nation in more than 80 years, and the death toll is expected to continue to rise as the rubble is cleared and the country heals. The 7.8-magnitude quake hit Nepal on Saturday destroying buildings in Kathmandu and severely affecting rural areas across the region. Currently, Dhakal, the Home Ministry spokesman, put the death toll at 4,620, while Nepal's National Emergency Coordination Center said the number of dead was 4,727. Both sources gave the number of people injured as 9,239, but Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has warned the death toll could reach 10,000, telling Reuters news agency the government was on a "war footing".
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk
Multiple avalanches caused by the earthquake on Saturday rumbled down a treacherous icefall and slammed into Everest Base Camp, killing at least 17 climbers and injuring at least 37 others, Nepalese officials said. Rescue efforts stalled on Monday because of bad weather, after 20 stranded climbers had been evacuated and 11 bodies had been retrieved, Jhankanath Dhakal, the chief district officer of Solukhumbu District, which includes Nepal’s part of Everest, said in a telephone interview. That was after 60 people were evacuated from Everest on Sunday, he said.
As aftershocks continue to shake the region, many residents hesitate to stay in their houses at nighttime - that is, if their house is still standing at all. The situation is critical in the remote rural regions towards the epicentre of Saturday's quake. But the real danger lies in the access now to life essentials like food, clean water, and shelter.
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk
"It's getting quite bad," says one man who is here with his wife and four daughters. "We've been here for three days and we've been living on instant noodles. There's nothing else to eat."
His house is not badly damaged, but he is adamant that he will not go home despite the challenging conditions in the camp. "We've heard all these rumours about more earthquakes and aftershocks. We will not leave this place, not for a while."
