Death Toll from Powerful Nepal Quake Reaches 688
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The death toll from a massive earthquake which devastated large parts of Nepal on Saturday has jumped to 688, authorities said.
At least 688 people have been killed, according to a senior home ministry official in Nepal. This includes 181 people who have died in the capital, Kathmandu.
An official with Nepal’s mountaineering department has said that the bodies of eight people have been recovered on Mount Everest, following an avalanche triggered by the earthquake.
They said that an unknown number of people remain missing or injured, The Guardian reported.
National radio warned people to stay outdoors because more aftershocks are feared. It is also asking people to maintain calm.
The epicenter was 80 kilometers (49 mile) northwest of Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley is densely populated with nearly 2.5 million, with the quality of buildings often poor.
The sustained quake also was felt in India's capital of New Delhi.