DHAKA: Nepal’s home affairs ministry says more than 150 people have died in the capital, Kathmandu, following a 7.9 magnitude earthquake.

However, a massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake has hit Nepal with devastating force less than 50 miles from the capital, Kathmandu, the US Geological Survey said Saturday.

Witnesses said people had been killed and injured, and historic buildings in Kathmandu had tumbled to the ground.

The full extent of the deaths, injuries and damage has not yet begun to emerge.

CNN’s Manesh Shrestha, who was himself hurt, said he saw five bodies at a hospital to which he walked, seeking treatment.

People with severe injuries were being treated outside, with doctors administering CPR on at least one person, Shrestha said.

‘It’s quite chaotic,’ he said by phone. ‘People are wailing, crying’.

Shrestha, who felt he needed stitches, was turned away because other people were more seriously hurt. He saw people with broken bones and severe head injuries, he said.

Avalanches were reported on Mount Everest, sending mountaineers running for cover.

‘Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche from pumori,’ Twitter user Alex Gavan said. ‘Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain’.

The quake, which struck at 11:41 local time (05:51 GMT), occurred at a depth of 9.3 miles, which is considered shallow and potentially more damaging than a quake emanating from deeper under the earth’s crust. And it was reported by people who felt it as seeming to last a very long time.

The USGS had rated the temblor at 7.5 magnitude but later upgraded the strength. The USGS reported aftershocks at strengths of 6.6 and 5.1, among others.

In all, it said, at least eight aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater have been felt in Nepal so far. A witness told CNN by phone that people were gathered outdoors in fear.

BDST: 1558 HRS, APR 25, 2015
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