Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

More than 1,800 feared dead as earthquake hits Nepal

Countries from around the world have pledged humanitarian aid to Nepal after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,800 people on Saturday.

Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake levelled centuries-old monuments, collapsed buildings and caused avalanches on Mount Everest, as the death toll looks almost certain to rise.

The earthquake is the worst the country has seen in 80 years and sparked offers of aid from across the world. "Our country is in a moment of crisis and we will require tremendous support and aid," said Nepal's Information and Broadcasting Minister Minendra Rijal.

India has sent several aircraft and a 40-strong disaster response team following an emergency meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pakistan is also sending four C-130 aircraft with a 30-bed field hospital and China also dispatching a 62-member response team to the country.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said his government was "working closely with the government of Nepal to provide assistance and support,” as the United States pledged $ 1 million in initial aid. The United Kingdom will be sending a 8-person team of humanitarian experts to Nepal after Prime Minister David Cameron saying Britain will do all it can to help.

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.