In Pictures

Gallery|Earthquakes

Nepal’s earthquake destruction

More than 3,000 dead as magnitude 7.9 earthquake hits Himalayan nation of 27 million.

An injured child receives treatment outside Medicare Hospital in the capital, Kathmandu.
By Al Jazeera and Agencies
Published On 25 Apr 2015

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck the Himalayan nation of Nepal, with reports of extensive damages to property and loss of life.

Police said more than 3,000 people were killed in the powerful quake that shook 80km east of Pokhara on Saturday, about half way between the town and the capital Kathmandu.

Of the total, 634 were reported dead in the Kathmandu Valley and at least 300 more in the capital, a police spokesman told Reuters news agency.

The earthquake destroyed many historical landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage temples at Basantapur Durbar Square and the Dharara tower, both in central Kathmandu.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at 11:56am local time (06:11 GMT). It initially reported a magnitude 7.7 before revising the calculation to 7.5 and later upgraded to 7.9.

The earthquake caused extensive damage with toppled walls and collapsed buildings, officials said.
Advertisement
A group of men carry an injured person through the street after magnitude 7.9 earthquake caused severe damage in the Nepali capital.
People pull a man from the rubble of a destroyed building in Kathmandu.
People try to dig out bodies from under the rubble. Strong after-shocks were felt as terrified people camped outside of their houses.
A man plucked out of a collapsed building in Kathmandu.
People come together to help in rescue operation.
Advertisement
The epicentre was 80 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu. Strong tremors were also felt in large areas of northern and eastern India and Bangladesh.
An injured person is being pulled from a collapsed building.
Nepalese rescue members and onlookers gather at the collapsed Darahara Tower in Kathmandu.
Nepalese people walk past collapsed buildings in Lalitpur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
The epicentre was 80 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu. Strong tremors were also felt in large areas of northern and eastern India and Bangladesh.