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Overall Situation
An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred at 11:56 p.m. Kathmandu time, striking a large area of central Nepal between the capital Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara. It was followed by 16 aftershocks of around 5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was in Lamjung District, northwest of Kathmandu.
According to the latest report, more than 1,150 people have been killed and the number of casualties has been increasing hourly. It is Nepal's deadliest earthquake for more than 80 years. According to the Government, 30 out of the country's 75 districts in the Western and Central Regions have been affected. This includes mountain and hilly areas with disperse rural populations as well as some very densely populated districts and Nepal’s two largest cities – greater Kathmandu and Pokhara. The Government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. Most affected districts are Sindulpalchowk, Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dolakha in the Central Region and Kaski, Gorkha, Lamjung in the Western Region. However, detailed information from these districts has been very difficult to obtain. There has been no figure on affected population yet. The size of the geographical areas concerned, scattered population and road blockages are expected to pose serious challenges to reach the affected population.
Impacts in Kathmandu Valley include collapsed buildings and walls including historic buildings in different parts of the valley. Hospitals area overcrowded and running short of emergency supplies. A majority of people, including those whose houses did not collapse, are remaining outside houses at night, due to the fear of aftershocks and structural damage to buildings.