At least 68 people are believed to have died and over 1,000 injured in Nepal yesterday after the country was hit by another large earthquake.
The quake comes just two weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck between Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu and Pokhara killing over 7,500 people.
Since, the country has felt several smaller aftershocks as locals continued efforts to remove buried bodies and restore damaged homes and buildings.
Yesterday’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck 50 miles to the east of Kathmandu (as opposed to last month’s, which struck the west), and has so far caused considerably less damage.
3 house collasped near newbuspark. Army and police in rescue. 2 vehicles damaged. #EarthquakeAgain #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/LO2SY7cy1s
— Saugat adhikari (@saugatad) May 12, 2015
However, this quake was closer to popular tourist attraction, Mount Everest and has reportedly brought down more houses and lodges in the Everest region.
The majority of tourists in the area are believed to have departed after the last quake.
Meanwhile, tour operators have rescheduled and cancelled upcoming trips to the destination.
This includes Wendy Wu Tours, who confirmed all customers that were in Nepal during the last quake have been evacuated from the country.
All further Wendy Wu tours to Nepal have been cancelled, including some imminent FIT (private touring) arrangements, until the latter half of September.
The tour operator said during the early part of September there will be a site visit to Nepal to ascertain the viability of travel back to the country.
Director Alan Alcock said that its hoped that last night’s earthquake, whilst almost as strong as the first, will not cause such extensive damage to the country and harm to the delightful Nepali people who have already suffered so much.
“Whilst understanding the horror and trauma these earthquakes have caused the people of Nepal, we must not forget that the same earthquakes have also caused death and extensive damage in Tibet and we have withdrawn our groups from some areas of that region also.”
Alan Alcock, Wendy Wu Tours Director
G Adventures said it too has no travellers in Nepal at the moment and all trips have been cancelled up until 31 May 2015.
“We are monitoring the current situation with regards to trips departing beyond that date.”
G Adventures
G Adventures and its non-profit organisation Planeterra have raised almost CA$200,000 in a Nepal Appeal.
Donations can still be made at Planeterra’s Nepal Earthquake appeal page.
G Adventures covers all administration costs so 100 percent of all donations will directly benefit the initiative.
The Intrepid Group, owners of Intrepid Travel, Geckos Adventures and Peregrine Travel, has also confirmed that all passengers have now left Nepal and all trips up to and including 31 May have been cancelled.
