Death Toll Rising as 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Nepal
Still can’t believe what I witnessed in #NepalQuake today. History crumbling, a nation in despair. pic.twitter.com/sFcOj2vzVi— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
A powerful earthquake struck Nepal Saturday, killing at least 71 people as the violently shaking earth collapsed houses, leveled centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches in the Himalayas. It was the worst temblor to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years.
At least 30 people died in neighboring countries where the quake was felt including 20 in India.
The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.8 struck before noon and was most severely felt in the capital as well as the densely populated Kathmandu Valley. A magnitude-6.6 aftershock hit about an hour later, and smaller aftershocks continued to ripple through the region for hours.
Dozens of people with injuries were being brought to the main hospital in central Kathmandu.
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