At least 40 people have reportedly been killed and hundreds more injured after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal only two weeks after more than 8,000 people were killed in an earlier quake.
The epicentre of the latest quake, which struck at 12.50pm local time, was some 76 kilometres northeast of the capital of Kathmandu – already devastated by the earlier earthquake. There were reports of strong aftershocks, including one of a 6.3 magnitude.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that some buildings which had been damaged in the earlier earthquake had collapsed following the latest one. “The earthquake caused some panic and many people fled to and remain in open spaces,” the OCHA said in an update.
Tim Costello, World Vision Australia CEO – who visited Nepal in the wake of the first earthquake, said he was “devastated” by news of further earthquakes. “I’m thinking about, and praying for, the people of Nepal and all the aid workers there,” he said.
Sunjuli Kunwar, a World Vision worker in Nepal, said at first they thought the quake was an aftershock. “It got so strong I dashed out of the house to check on my son who was playing outside. A lot of people rushed to open spaces. Mobile phone lines were jammed. There was chaos everywhere.”
TO DONATE:
Baptist World Aid Australia: Phone 1300 789 991 or see www.bapistworldaustralia.org.au
Caritas Australia’s Emergency Response Fund – Phone 1800 024 413 or see www.caritas.org.au
Australian Red Cross: Phone 1800 811 700 or see www.redcross.org.au
UNICEF: Phone 1300 884 233 or see www.unicef.org.au
World Vision Australia’s Earthquake Appeal – Phone 13 32 40 or see www.worldvision.com.au
