Nepal earthquake: Death toll rises to 2,500

According to the latest figures released, at least 2,500 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured.

Throughout April 26, Nepal and especially the capital Kathmandu continued to suffer from strong aftershocks, while the death toll from the strong earthquake that occurred the day before continued to rise. At least 2,500 people were killed and more than 5,000 were injured. The international community is accelerating relief efforts for this country.

Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors under the rubble of the April 25 earthquake in the capital Kathmandu. This is considered the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in nearly a century.

On the morning of April 27, this Asian country continued to suffer another earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter scale and could be felt from the capital New Delhi of neighboring India, 800 km to the West.

Helicopters evacuate injured people from the earthquake area. (Photo: Reuters)

The US Geological Survey said about 30 low-intensity aftershocks had been recorded. In Kathmandu, many people slept outdoors despite the cold weather due to fears of possible aftershocks.

“When the earthquake happened, we ran into the hotel courtyard to avoid being hit by the collapsing buildings and when we came out, everything was in ruins. We started helping people, trying to move the bodies out of the rubble and last night we slept outside because we were afraid of aftershocks and because all the hotels are high-rise buildings. So we are here and waiting for the situation to improve,” said a French tourist.

Hundreds of houses collapsed and parts of the city were left without electricity. The earthquake destroyed many famous historical sites in Nepal, including the nearly 200-year-old Dharhara tower in the capital Kathmandu. The tower collapsed, now just a pile of rubble, burying nearly 50 people.

“When the earthquake happened, I was at a temple in the south of the capital Kathmandu. The earthquake was quite strong and everything collapsed. Everyone was in panic,” said a resident.

The situation is also worrying in the Mount Everest region, where the earthquake triggered a massive avalanche that trapped many climbers. According to local authorities, at least 22 people have died and more than 200 are missing in the area.

Thanks to improved weather conditions, six helicopters landed on the Himalayan peak on April 26 to rescue victims of the avalanche. According to the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism, about 1,000 people, nearly half of them foreigners, were in the area when the disaster occurred.

In India, the government said 67 people were killed by the earthquake, mostly in the eastern state of Bihar, while 17 people were killed in Tibet (China). The earthquake was also felt in Bangladesh. According to rescue workers, the death toll could rise and humanitarian agencies in the area are still struggling to assess the extent of the earthquake's devastation and the needs of the people there.

Meanwhile, the international community has stepped up relief efforts in Nepal. The US government announced on April 26 that it had sent rescue teams to the region and approved an initial $1 million in aid. Neighboring India sent two military transport planes to Nepal on the same day, and China announced it was sending a team of 62 rescuers with the help of sniffer dogs to assist in the search for victims.

Two Russian planes carrying rescue workers also left Moscow yesterday. However, bad weather has greatly affected the rescue work. The Indian Meteorological Institute announced that heavy and heavy rains in Kathmandu, as well as in the eastern region of Nepal, will continue throughout April 27 and 28./.

According to VOV