Over 1000 dead in Nepal earthquake

CBM UK has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to provide urgent relief to people with disabilities, who are among those most affected by the earthquake.

Latest update: 27/04/15 09:28 GMT

3,300 confirmed dead, over 6,500 injured and many more unaccounted for. The death toll will continue to rise with many homes and buildings destroyed, and many more families displaced. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Update: 26/04/15 18:00 GMT

Nepal was hit by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock today, 65km East of Kathmandu, causing further destruction in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake. More than 2300 people are believed dead, officials have said. The aftershock was felt across Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Communications remain extremely difficult and CBM’s emergency response unit are still working to contact all our partners in Nepal, who work with people with disabilities.

Over 1000 people have lost their lives in the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in over 80 years, with the death toll expected to rise further. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck on 25th April 2015 at 11:41 local time, with the epicentre 81km northwest of Kathmandu. There were tremors of up to two minutes and by evening, at least 18 aftershocks had been felt.

CBM Emergency Response Unit has been in contact with our Regional and Country Offices, and staff directly affected on the ground, and is working to make contact with our 9 partner-projects in Nepal. These include eye and ear care programmes, Community-based Rehabilitation, mainstreaming of mental health and psychosocial disability, education and livelihood and empowerment of women.

Mitralal Shrestha, a staff member from CBM Nepal, described his own experience of the earthquake:

“When the earthquake struck it was Saturday Midday, so most people were in their houses. I was with my family, having lunch. When it happened I didn’t think anything about saving my life, we just all went outside – my family and our neighbours – and went to a safe place. We are OK. But after about half an hour we realised many bad things had happened. It was then a terrible time for half an hour with a lot of tension. A seven-storey building only 300 metres from my house had collapsed. More than 25 families were staying there. It was totally destroyed. We helped the people, calling police, taking them to hospital. In the hospital there were no free beds; people were just lying on the floor getting treatment. Now [~10pm local time] it is dark but many people are still outside, sitting around, afraid to go back inside in case of more earthquakes.”

The most affected areas are Gorkha and Lamjung Districts (north-west of Kathmandu). Damage in Kathmandu Valley limited to historical densely built up neighbourhoods.

More updates will be available in the coming days from CBM’s Emergency Response Unit.