Nepal Earthquake death toll climbs to almost 700

Nepalese rescue members remove the body from Darahara Tower in Kathmandu on April 25, 2015. (AFP Photo / Prakash Mathema)

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal and India,has killed nearly 700 people. The most severe damage was seen in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, where buildings collapsed, reportedly causing numerous injuries.



"The number of dead so far is 449," Police Deputy Inspector General Kamal Singh Bam said.

Thirty-six bodies have been counted so far by Kathmandu's main civil hospital. In addition, 21 bodies were seen on the ground, reported Nepal's Kantipur TV.

"Hundreds of people are feared dead and there are reports of widespread damage to property. The devastation is not confined to some areas of Nepal. Almost the entire country has been hit," Krishna Prasad Dhakal, deputy chief of mission at Nepal's embassy in New Delhi, said.

People wait at a school after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck, in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 25, 2015. (Reuters)

It occurred 33km east of Lamjung District and 80km northwest of Kathmandu, which has a population of about 1 million. The quake was at a depth of 31km. Everyone is out in the streets of Kathmandu and people are rushing to hospitals, local media reported.

The historic Dharahara (Bhimsen) Tower, dating back to 1832, has reportedly collapsed in Kathmandu, said witnesses. The 62-meter-high monument was a part of Architecture of Kathmandu recognized by UNESCO.

This ninth-storey Dharahara is completely destroyed. Around 400 are suspected to be buried" - Sagar Ghimire tweeted

According to witnesses at least one body was removed from the tower and a second lay further up the road. About 50 people are now being trapped inside the collapsed tower, Nepal media reported.




Some tremors were reportedly felt in some cities in eastern and northern India, including the capital, New Delhi, said JL Gautam, Head Operations Seismology of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

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People were seen running from their houses after the buildings shook for several minutes in Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region.

 Several parts of India also experienced tremors,”Indian PM Narendra Modi tweeted.

Also tremors were felt in the cities of Patna, Lucknow, Kolkata, Jaipur and Chandigarh.

The quake caused an avalanche on Mount Everest, mountaineer Alex Gavan tweeted from Mount Pumori, about 8km (5 miles) west of Mount Everest:

"Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche from [Mount] pumori. Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain," Gavan wrote.

So many buildings were damage causing several deaths

-RT