A 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook the country of Nepal on Saturday, April 25, 2015. The disaster has killed over 5,000, injured more than 11,000, and impacted over eight million people across the nation.
While Nepal tried to recover from the earthquake, a series of avalanches struck Mount Everest that same day. The avalanches took the lives of numerous climbers, including Google executive Dan Fredinburg, who was on a trip with the Jagged Globe team.
Rescue efforts are ongoing and survivors are still being pulled out of the rubble. Each survival is being celebrated as a miracle, but only a few miracles of this kind have occurred so far. One joyous rescue was the rescue of 15-year-old Pema Lama, which took place on the morning of April 30. A female kitchen worker in her mid-30s, Krishna Devi Khadka, was also saved by a team of French, Norwegian, and Israeli experts.
“It must have been so scary to be trapped under the rubble for all of that time. Pema Lama is so brave to have endured so much in just a few days,” says freshman Erika Borrero. “He’s the same age as me, but so much more courageous.”
In addition to these rescues, the discovery of four-month-old baby Sonit Awal, who was buried in his home for over 22 hours, was both astonishing and delightful for rescuers.
Nepalese officials say that the chances of discovering more survivors in the wreckage now are scarce, with the rescue efforts having been hindered by over 70 aftershocks following the original earthquake. The strongest of these aftershocks had a magnitude of 6.9; not as strong as, but certainly as damaging as its predecessor.
Freshman Sanjana Belthur said, “It’s bad enough that the earthquake hit them, but then there were even more tremors afterwards! The people must have thought they were safe after one quake, but they really weren’t.”
A majority of civilians left from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, traveling on government-provided transportation. Many left with the intentions of finding relatives in other parts of the country.
In a statement issued on April 29, the White House said that President Obama has conveyed sympathy to Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala via phone call, and “pledged that the United States will do all that it can to help the people of Nepal in their time of need.”
There are various ways you can help the Nepalese recover and rebuild:
The Nepal Red Cross Society is directly helping the people affected by the quake, and is currently the main aid for those in need of rescuing, finding loved ones, and medical attention. Click here to get donation information.
To donate $10 to the thousands of families suffering through the Save the Children foundation, you can text “NEPAL” to 20222.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Rec Crescent Societies is sending resources to Nepal and funding basic necessities for the affected, including food, water, and shelter. Click here to donate to their efforts.
ActionAid USA is arranging for supplies for the Nepalese. Support them here.
How will you help Nepal?
Donate supplies, money, etc.
Send condolences
Spread awareness about the disaster
Volunteer with organizations that are helping Nepal
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