横幅bidvertiser

Monday, April 27, 2015

Nepal earthquake: Death toll rises above 3,000

Men dig through rubble in Bhaktapur, Nepal (26 April 2015)

Local people have been using basic tools to dig through rubble in badly hit towns like Bhaktapur
At least 3,617 people are now known to have died in a massive earthquake which hit Nepal on Saturday, police say.
More than 6,500 people have been injured, according to the National Emergency Operation Centre.
Dozens of people are also reported to have been killed in neighbouring China and India.
More than 200 climbers have been rescued around Mount Everest, which was struck by deadly avalanches in the 7.8-magnitude quake.
Vast tent cities have sprung up in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, for those displaced or afraid to return to their homes as strong aftershocks continued. Thousands spent Sunday night - their second night - outside.
Officials have warned that the number of casualties could rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous areas of western Nepal.
Initial reports suggest that many communities, especially those close to mountainsides, suffered significant quake damage.
"Villages like this are routinely affected by landslides, and it's not uncommon for entire villages of 200, 300, up to 1,000 people to be completely buried by rock falls," Matt Darvas, spokesman for aid agency World Vision said.
A man evacuated by helicopter to Pokhara, 200km from Kathmandu, said almost every home in his village of more than 1,000 houses had been destroyed, Mr Darvas told the BBC.
Nepal earthquake map
Family members break down during the cremation of earthquake victims in Bhaktapur near Kathmandu (26 April 2015)
Cremations of the dead took place across Nepal on Sunday
Indian rescue personnel search for survivors in a Kathmandu building 26/05/2015
A team of Indian rescue personnel look for survivors in a Kathmandu building - such searches are still continuing but winding down
In Dhading district, 80km west of Kathmandu, people were camped in the open, the hospital was overflowing, the power was off and shops were closed, Reuters news agency reported.
A senior official in Gorkha district, the location of the earthquake's epicentre, told AP he had heard reports of 70% of houses being destroyed.
"Things are really bad in the district, especially in remote mountain villages," Udav Prashad Timalsin said. "There are people who are not getting food and shelter."
Among villages affected are some inhabited by Tibetans, many of whom have sought refuge in Nepal. Bridim, north of Kathmandu, is reported to have been virtually flattened.
The roads to where the epicentre was, northwest of the capital, have been cleared and rescue teams are on their way.
Rescue missions and aid are arriving in Nepal from abroad to help cope with the aftermath of the earthquake, the worst to hit Nepal for more than 80 years.
Efforts to dig victims out from under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kathmandu are also continuing.



line

At the scene: Sanjoy Majumder, Kathmandu

After a cold and wet night, the skies have cleared over Kathmandu allowing rescue teams to continue working.
But it is becoming harder for the hundreds of thousands sheltering out in the open. Many are staying in very basic tents with little protection.
Water is becoming scarce and there are fears that children in particular could be at risk of disease. Even residents of some of the city's smarter neighbourhoods are sleeping on carpets and mattresses outside their homes.
Aid flights are coming in rapidly and in fact Kathmandu airport is running out of parking bays, so many aircraft are having to wait before getting permission to land.
And at the Pashupatinath temple, one of the city's oldest, cremations have been taking place since the morning. As the death toll rises, the authorities are keen on disposing of the bodies as quickly as possible to prevent a health hazard.



line

But home ministry official Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told Reuters rescuers were "in a really bad shape" after working non-stop for two days. "We are all about to collapse."
Renewed panic
A powerful aftershock was felt on Sunday in Nepal, India and Bangladesh, and more avalanches were reported near Everest.
The 6.7-magnitude tremor, centred 60km (40 miles) east of Kathmandu, sent people running in panic for open ground in the city.
Patient Sanu Ranjitkar at a makeshift outdoor shelter in Kathmandu, Nepal (27 April 2015)
Hospital patients were among those moved outside over the weekend
It brought down some houses that had been damaged in the initial quake.
At hospitals rattled by the aftershocks, staff moved sick and injured patients outside on Sunday afternoon.
The rescue of climbers stranded on Mount Everest came as the weather cleared on Monday morning, allowing more helicopters to head to Base Camp.
Foreign climbers and their Nepalese guides around Mt Everest were caught by the tremors and a huge avalanche that buried part of the camp.
At least 18 people were killed and 60 more injured; others are still missing.
People inspect the damage of the collapsed landmark Dharahara tower in Kathmandu 25/04/2015
The quake destroyed several major monuments

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

BBC-Activity

BBC - Homepage

BBC Homepage

Asia Pacific

Gajendra Singh at the rally minutes before his death

India farmer suicide at Delhi rally

An Indian farmer has died after hanging himself before a huge crowd at a rally addressed by the chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal.

Earth

For Earth Day 2015, find out how the planet has changed since your birth

Your life on earth

For Earth Day 2015, find out how the planet has changed since your birth

Capital

Can’t even afford a tiny house? Try a micro-flat

Why small is the new big thing

Can’t even afford a tiny house? Try a micro-flat

Autos

Depends on your perspective – and where you live

What’s wrong with this Mustang?

Depends on your perspective – and where you live

Culture

The future of abandoned buildings

Ruined beauty: What should we do?

The future of abandoned buildings

Future

Sound illusions that mess with your mind

Why you can't trust your ears

Sound illusions that mess with your mind

Travel

An ancient tradition is being taught to foreigners

Thailand's secret, supernatural ink

An ancient tradition is being taught to foreigners

photography

Night / Day

Photo contest: Finalists revealed

From lightning over a city skyline to dancers at sunset in Bali, BBC Travel's readers submitted stunning images of the difference between night and day - and back again.

Design Icons

Eiffel

What you didn't know about the Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel’s daring design overcame derision and controversy to become the ultimate symbol of Paris. Jonathan Glancey tells its story.

Will we ever?

Underground

The upside of living underground

As cities get more crowded, why not build down? Explore the world’s most unusual underground constructions, from Australian rock homes to Beijing’s subterranean spaces.

TV & Radio

World Service Radio

On air now: 01:05 - 02:00 GMT

Outlook
The woman adopting dead babies to give them a decent burial.

Next on air: 02:00 - 02:05 GMT

BBC News
The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.
Today's Schedule

Hourly bulletins:

Weather

Singapore


  •  
Thu
Thundery Shower
Max Temperature: 31°C 88°F
Min Temperature: 24°C 75°F
Fri
Heavy Rain Shower
Max Temperature: 31°C 88°F
Min Temperature: 24°C 75°F
Sat
Thundery Shower
Max Temperature: 30°C 86°F
Min Temperature: 24°C 75°F
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.