Earthquake and landslide in Nepal and India

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal at 11:56 (local time) on 25 April 2015.

The devastating earthquake has killed over seven thousand people in Nepal, and more than 70 in neighbouring India.

The epicentre of the earthquake was in central Nepal at 28 degree north latitude and 84 degrees east longitude. It has been described as the worst disaster to affect Nepal in 80 years and the latest reports list a total of 7566 casualties, with twice that number injured. More than eight million people are affected by the earthquake.

The death toll is expected to increase, as rescue workers sift through the wreckage of remote villages and towns in the region, some of which have been entirely buried by landslides.

The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, which was 80 km away from the epicentre suffered in the disaster, with a toll of at least one thousand victims. Several locations of historical importance in the city also suffered severe damage. Kathmandu is providing shelter for thousands of victims in the region, with emergency tents and medical resources.

Recovery efforts are hindered by lack of communications and access to many locations, caused by damage from the earthquake and landslides blocking roads and severing communications lines. Helicopters are the only way to reach some of these areas, and Nepal has only a small number of aircraft available.

Northern India, which borders Nepal, suffered damage in the earthquake with the states of Bihar and Sikkim particularly affected. The current death toll stands at 78 in India, with most of the casualties in Bihar. Authorities have advised people to avoid older structures in the area due to concerns of collapse following the earthquake.

The earthquake also caused avalanches on Mount Everest, which killed 18 people and left hundreds of mountain climbers stranded on the mountain when they lost their climbing gear in the avalanches. The mountain is located in eastern Nepal, in the Himalayas, and is a popular attraction for mountain climbers. Rescue efforts are underway to retrieve the stranded mountain climbers, and over 200 have been recovered so far. But many of them are missing; their location unknown.

Over 35 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquake struck, the most powerful of which was at magnitude 6.7 on 26 April. This caused further damage in Nepal and India. International aid is being sent to Nepal, including help from the neighbouring countries of India and China, which have both suffered from the disaster, as well.

It is expected to be a long and difficult recovery for Nepal.