A 7.8 earthquake that hit near Katmandu, Nepal, on Saturday has killed thousands of people and left the region devastated. Here's the latest on what happened and the situation on the ground:
How many people have died so far?
As of Monday morning, 4,000 people had died in the quake, according to authorities in Nepal. Thousands more were injured in that country alone. This does not include at least 17 people reported dead and dozens injured on Mt. Everest.
In addition, the quake killed at least 69 people in India and 20 people in China’s Tibet region. Additional deaths were reported in Bangladesh.
Officials in Nepal say more than 6,900 people have been injured.
What is the situation on Mt. Everest?
At least 17 people were killed, and more than 60 others injured, many of them critically, according to officials.
Helicopter teams have evacuated dozens of critically injured climbers, most of them Sherpas or guides who were working at the base camp, but the flights were suspended Sunday when aftershocks caused a second avalanche
What is the situation on the ground?
Rescuers still haven’t reached many of the remote mountain villages in the area. Some reports trickling in suggest that in some areas, 70% or more of the homes have been reduced to rubble.
Survivors are struggling with shortages of electricity, gasoline, water, cash, and sanitary facilities. Communications are still spotty at best.
Local and international aid agencies are scrambling to get food, water, shelter, and medical supplies to disaster victims. Planeloads of aid and personnel began arriving over the weekend from neighboring countries, but some flights were stymied by Sunday’s aftershocks and had to circle the Katmandu airport until tremors subsided.
Some of Katmandu’s major hospitals were damaged in the quake, and emergency rooms overflowed with patients. Many were being treated on beds and mattresses staff members have dragged into parking lots.
Schools and most businesses still are closed, banks are not open, and without electricity many residents cannot withdraw cash.
Officials say the entire Katmandu Valley has suffered power cuts and drinking water shortages due to severe damage to pipes.
Young Telugu Actor-Choreographer K Vijay Has Died In The Nepal Earthquake
A young Telugu film actor, K Vijay, died in the Nepal earthquake. He was 25 years old.
Vijay was in Nepal along with the unit of Telugu movie 'etakaram.com' for shooting. The film, reportedly starring Manoj Nandam and Dinesh, was being shot in the country and Vijay was playing a friend of the character played by Dinesh.