Rescuers Find More Victims in Devastated Areas of Nepal

As the death toll from the Nepal earthquake exceeds 7,300, rescuers and volunteers have pulled the bodies of dozens of climbers and local villagers from an area devastated by an avalanche. Nine days after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal, the death toll rose to 7,366 on May 3. Reuters reports that rescuers found nearly 100 bodies from the village of Langtang (60 kilometers from Kathmandu) that were trapped under the avalanche caused by the earthquake. This destroyed village was primarily a residence for climbers and a group of local villagers. The United Nations has stated that the devastating earthquake has disrupted the lives of 8 million people out of the country's 28 million population. Among them, two million people urgently need water, food, medicine, and basic necessities. Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has asked foreign groups and rescuers to end their searches. The Indian Express reports that India, the largest country in terms of foreign rescue presence, which had sent 16 search teams to the area, has stated that it is withdrawing its forces. Many remote areas of Nepal have been inaccessible to rescuers for days due to bad weather and destroyed roads. The Nepalese government has stated that it will now focus on recovering bodies and providing aid to the affected. UNICEF reports that half a million children have been vaccinated due to concerns about a measles outbreak. At the same time, 1.7 million children in severely affected areas urgently need humanitarian assistance. In this context, the severe earthquake has shifted Kathmandu 'several meters south.' About a thousand nationals from European countries are missing in Nepal. U.S. military aircraft have entered Nepal to assist in relief efforts in remote areas. Nepal needs $2 billion for the reconstruction of the recent earthquake damages.