Official death toll in Nepal earthquake rises to 5,057; 10,915 injured
The official death toll of Saturday's deadly 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has grown to 5,057, with 10,915 people injured, the country's Ministry of Home Affairs said Tuesday, Sputnik reported.
The Ministry added that 454,769 people have been displaced. The quake is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in property damage. The UN has estimated that nearly eight million people have been affected by the quake.
The earthquake occurred Saturday morning around 50 miles northwest of the capital of Kathmandu, causing massive damage in the region. The disaster triggered avalanches on Mount Everest, as well as tremors and resulted in casualties in neighbouring areas of India, Bangladesh and China. According to the UN, more than 6.6 million people reside in areas affected by the earthquake.
Tourists from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and India are among the victims of the disaster. Dozens of people in neighboring India, Bangladesh and China were reportedly killed.
International search and rescue missions from Russia and around the world are underway in Nepal to help affected locals and foreign nationals. The World Food Program is providing food and trucks and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has sent tents and health care supplies.