A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Nepal overnight, as the death toll rises, a state of emergency has been called in the country and the natural disaster has been labelled Nepal’s worst in over 80 years.
The quake caused office blocks, towers, buildings and the historic Dharahara tower to topple in the nation’s capital Kathmandu, with avalanches in the nearby himalayas and Mount Everest region also following the powerful tremor.
According to reports, over 1300 people have been killed from the earthquake, as well as at least 13 climbers on Mount Everest due to a deadly avalanche. Dozens of other climbers in the himalayas are also reportedly injured.
The Nepal earthquake touched off an avalanche on Mount Everest, causing injuries and deaths http://t.co/Yrs1MXK9H3 pic.twitter.com/Y0J5MOJqcz
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 26, 2015
“We are trying to assess how many are injured. There might be over 1000 people there right now, including foreign climbers and Nepalese supporting staff,” an official said of the impact at Mount Everest, according to Fairfax.
At least 11 Australians have been listed on Red Cross’ Family Links website as unaccounted for. Among those missing in the himalayan region is Zachary Sheridan, brother of Australian actor Hugh Sheridan. Sheridan posted on twitter early this morning:
Please. Anyone who is awake, please pray for my little brother Zachary who is on Mt Everest, I’d appreciate every prayer you have spare x
— Hugh Sheridan (@hugh_sheridan) April 25, 2015
Perth woman Ballantyne Paige Forder, reportedly working in an orphanage in Kathmandu at the time of the earthquake, has also been reported missing.
#auspol Please find my baby sister. Missing in Kathmandu pic.twitter.com/DbkKcm1iGO
— Amanda-Sue Markham (@sue_amandasue) April 25, 2015
The Department of Foreign Affairs, at the time of writing, is yet to make a statement regarding the missing Australians in Nepal. ALP’s Tanya Plibersek, opposition Foreign Affairs minister, asked for the government to urgently address the nation regarding the earthquake: “Labor has asked the government for urgent advice about the safety of Australians reported to have been in the area at the time.”
Two ancient temples in the historic Patan Durbar square have reportedly been destroyed. Some reports claim the earthquake’s toll was slightly lower than feared, as schools were not in session at the time of the tremor – on a Saturday afternoon.
More on the Nepalese natural disaster to come.
The impact of the earthquake could cost billions of dollars – those wishing to donate to aid the recovery process can do so at Care, World Vision, Save the Children or Unicef, among others.
