According to NPR news, the earthquake in Nepal on Saturday has a horrendous and rising death toll. Right now about 3,000 people are dead, with more than 5,800 injured. The earthquake itself had a magnitude of 7.8 with a powerful aftershock of 6.7 on Sunday that did a lot of damage in Kathmandu, a city with a rich history. The city has many ancient buildings and shrines for Buddhism and Hinduism that have been destroyed. NPR's Julie McCarthy, who is reporting from the capital, described what happened on Weekend Edition Sunday: "When it struck, I didn't feel it right away, but I heard this roar of people around me rise in sheer panic shouting 'It's coming!' and they begun running for their lives all over again," she said.
At least three U.S. citizens are among the dead, with another 61 confirmed dead in India, and more in the Tibet region of China and Bangladesh. Saturday's earthquake was also very close to Mt. Everest causing new avalanches of snow and rock to form. Some rescue helicopters lifted the wounded from the slope, but at least 17 people died at the base camp, along with 61 injured. Many people from around the world are coming to help the people of Nepal; hopefully no more powerful aftershocks will occur.
-Faith Hamman
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