Death toll from Nepal earthquake rises to nearly 5,500

According to the latest information released by the Nepalese Government, nearly 5,500 people have died and about 11,000 people have been injured.

The number of casualties after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal continues to increase. Rescue and relief operations are being stepped up, with the current priority being to strengthen sanitation activities to prevent the spread of disease after the earthquake.

Rescue of earthquake survivors (Photo: BBC)

According to the latest information released by the Nepalese Government, more than 5,000 people have died and about 11,000 people have been injured in the earthquake disaster in this country.

Speaking to the press, Mr. Jung Thapu, a Nepalese military official, said: "We are still updating the casualty figures from the Emergency Rescue Center. According to the information we have so far, there have been 5,489 deaths and 10,965 injuries as of April 30."

The United Nations estimates that the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25 and subsequent aftershocks have affected about 8 million people in Nepal. Rescue efforts are still being intensified.

On April 30, earthquake rescue forces in Nepal successfully rescued a 15-year-old boy from the rubble of the Hilton Hotel in the capital Kathmandu. The boy had been trapped for 5 days since the earthquake but was still conscious at the time of rescue.

Meanwhile, Kathmandu residents have begun cleaning up the capital's solid waste to avoid the risk of disease and other health hazards. "I am no longer afraid of earthquakes, but I am very afraid of the risk of disease outbreaks. So we have to clean up," said Janaki, a Kathmandu resident.

According to the Kathmandu Environment Management Authority, about 200 tonnes of rubbish were collected yesterday alone. In addition, the city will also use 12,000 litres of phenol chemical for cleaning.

Along with the efforts of the Nepalese people, the international community is continuing relief activities in Nepal. The Finnish Red Cross said yesterday that it will send a search team and some experts to Nepal to support rescue operations after the earthquake.

In addition to the manpower, Finland will also send an X-ray machine, 140 tents and nearly 1,000 kitchen utensils to Nepal. Earlier, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country would support Nepal with 2 million euros, equivalent to more than 2 million USD.

Singapore's Ministry of Defense said it has deployed two C-130 air force aircraft carrying a team of experts, relief food and medical equipment to Kathmandu./.

According to VOV