[gatagato]

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, they are literally unable to deal with a disaster of this magnitude, let alone their buildings. The death toll will rise, I'm afraid. My thoughts go to those involved in this disaster

The quake measured 7.9 and struck an area between the capital Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara, the US Geological Survey said.

Tremors were felt across the region, as far afield as Pakistan, Bangladesh and neighbouring India.

A Nepali minister said there had been "massive damage" at the epicentre.

"We need support from the various international agencies which are more knowledgeable and equipped to handle the kind of emergency we face now," said Information Minister Minendra Rijal.

Bodies have been pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kathmandu.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32461019

M7.8 - 34km ESE of Lamjung, Nepal

The April 25, 2015 M 7.8 Nepal earthquake occurred as the result of thrust faulting on or near the main frontal thrust between the subducting India plate and the overriding Eurasia plate to the north.

At the location of this earthquake, the India plate is converging with Eurasia at a rate of 45 mm/yr towards the north-northeast, driving the uplift of the Himalayan mountain range.

The preliminary location, size and focal mechanism of the April 25 earthquake are consistent with its occurrence on the main subduction thrust interface between the India and Eurasia plates.

Although a major plate boundary with a history of large-to-great sized earthquakes, large earthquakes on the Himalayan thrust are rare in the documented historical era.

Just four events of M6 or larger have occurred within 250 km of the April 25, 2015 earthquake over the past century. One, a M 6.9 earthquake in August 1988, 240 km to the southeast of the April 25 event, caused close to 1500 fatalities.

The largest, an M 8.0 event known as the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake, occurred in a similar location to the 1988 event. It severely damaged Kathmandu, and is thought to have caused around 10,600 fatalities.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak...eneral_summary

Latest update (Sunday 26 April 2015 17.18 BST)

• The death toll from the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday has risen to more than 2,500. More than 5,000 people have been injured. Powerful aftershocks today between Kathmandu and Everest unleashed more avalanches in the Himalayas and caused panic in the capital, where hospital workers stretchered patients out into the street as it was too dangerous treat them indoors.
• At least 17 people believed to have been killed on Everest, and 61 injured, by an avalanche which left mountaineers calling for helicopter assistance to evacuate the most badly wounded.
• The UK government has announced that it will donate £5m to help the rescue effort in Nepal.
• A state of emergency has been declared Many historic landmarks, including the Dharahara tower, have been reduced to rubble following the quake.
• Governments are scrambling to locate thousands of their nationals and relatives took to social media to find their loved ones.
• The international community has also pledged support and aid packages to Nepal. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has said the US will pledge $1m to the aid effort and will also assist with a disaster response team. Australia has also pledged a Aus$5m aid package, while India, Sri Lanka, the UK, China and others are all sending disaster response teams to assist in search and rescue.
• Pope Francis led prayers in St Peter’s Square for the dead, displaced and injured in Nepal and surrounding areas.
• Weather reports suggested that survivors of the quake - who are sleeping outside because of fear of unsafe building - will face heavy downpours in the next week.
• The quakes caused widespread damage to Nepal’s infrastructure which has further hampered search and rescue operations. Injured climbers at Mount Everest, where an avalanche struck following the quake, have been flown by helicopter to receive medical treatment.

[spudigitti]

[Illusion]

Death toll up to 800 and counting.

[b0g]

it's +8000 mountain climbers prep season for acclimatization

[invertigo]

Shit. Nearly all of my best friend's paternal relatives live in Nepal... I hope they're OK...

[Susan]

A few photos from the 7.8 earthquake today that has so far claimed 857 lives. Please feel free to add photos.

[icheerthebull]

I have some very good mates from nepal, in fact I have never met or worked with anyone from nepal that I did not like. Everyone who I know seems to have accounted for most of their loved ones.

landline and mobile lines are down in large areas but the internet seems ok for the most part. A close mate cant call his parents but has been in contact with them via facebook

people have been told to stay out in the street due to aftershocks

the end numbers will be high

[Susan]

I apologise for the size of these photos.

[gatagato]

The Nepal Army put the death toll as high as 1,457

[Pyramid_Head]

Mass loss of life, it's always so sad.