More than 5,000 people are now confirmed dead as a result of a massive earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, local officials say. At least 7,000 were injured by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, and tens of thousands more were displaced. The death toll is expected to rise sharply as rural areas are examined, and could surpass 15,000.

The epicenter was less than 50 miles northwest of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. It was the most severe earthquake to strike the Himalayan nation since 1934. More than 100 aftershocks have followed.

On April 27, Kathmandu resident Manisha Dahal described her experience with the quake and its aftershocks during an interview with the Trumpet: “Me and my mom were at terrace washing clothes, and suddenly the house started shaking,” she said of the initial jolt. She continued:

We could not run as it was shaking tremendously. We sat on the terrace hugging each other. After few seconds, we saw a building fall down right in front of us. Then we saw a cloud of dust in the sky. We then saw a few building collapse at a distance. My vision became blur and I thought we would not survive. My only thoughts were that my mom was with me and I am lucky for that. Even then, it did not stop shaking. Birds and dust filled up the sky and we could see other houses swing. Then, after a while the shaking stopped and we get went downstairs on the open road. As soon as we were on the road, we felt the second quake. Everybody were holding each other and praying for it to be over. Then we tried to call our family members but the network was down. …The houses kept falling in front of our eyes. Heart beating, mind numbing day. Till now, I have experienced 28 shakes and we are terrified to go inside. We spent the night in the open grassland, which was OK despite of cold. Then, in the middle of night, it rained. We tried to go inside thinking the shaking would not be repeated, there was a shock again. Wet and cold, we survived the night.

Tens of thousands like Dahal have crowded into makeshift camps and shelters around the country. Officials say waterborne and infectious diseases are a risk in these camps because of the crowded conditions.

On Monday, Nepali Times journalist Anurag Acharya tweeted a photo of displaced residents sleeping inside sewer pipes intended for reconstruction:

https://twitter.com/Anurag_Acharya/status/592674159257333762

The initial earthquake also triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 18 climbers and guides and trapping many others. The massive quake was also felt across parts of China, India, Tibet, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Indian scholar of tourism Anil Kumar Gade told the Trumpet that he was rocked by the quake in Assam, India. “I felt a tremor,” he said. “It continued for few seconds. … I rushed to the door and many people were already on the road looking at the building [I was in].”

Why is so much violent weather assailing the nations of the world? Those personally affected by the earthquakes in Nepal need answers. You need answers. These answers can be found in our free booklet Why ‘Natural’ Disasters?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouzJdtyOLg8&feature=youtu.be