7.9-magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal, damage reported (VIDEO)

Published time: April 25, 2015 06:33
Edited time: April 25, 2015 08:32

image from http://earthquake.usgs.gov

Shortly after the earthquake, the USGS raised the initial 7.5-magnitude of the quake to 7.9.A 7.9-magnitude earthquake has struck Nepal and India, killing at least two people. The most severe damage was seen in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, where buildings collapsed, reportedly causing numerous injuries.

People wait at a school after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck, in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 25, 2015. (Reuters)

The quake occurred 33km east of Lamjung District and 80km northwest of Kathmandu, which has a population of about 1 million.

The death toll from a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal kept rising on Saturday, with police telling the Associated Press that at least 1,130 people were confirmed dead.

The quake destroyed homes and ancient temples, and triggered at least one avalanche on Mount Everest. The number of deaths was not immediately confirmed by NBC News; earlier, Minendra Rija, the country's minister of information and communications, said nearly 600 people had died, but cautioned, "That number may rise."

The quake hit just before noon local time (2:15 a.m. ET), with an epicenter about 50 miles from the capital of Kathmandu and 50 miles east of Nepal's second-largest city, Pokhara. It was felt as far as neighboring countries, and killed at least 34 people in India, 12 in Tibet and two in Bangladesh, the Associated Press reported.