DHAKA: Nepal has asked foreign countries to wrap up search and rescue operations nine days after a devastating earthquake killed more than 7,200 people, now there is no hope of finding people alive in the rubble.

Dozens of countries sent teams to look for survivors after the Himalayan nation was hit by a 7.8-magnitude quake on April 25, its worst since 1934, but the Nepal government now believes the search and rescue work has been nearly completed.

‘They can leave. If they are also specialists in clearing the rubble, they can stay,’ Rameshwor Dangal, an official at Nepal’s home ministry, told the media on Monday.

The quake killed 7,276 people and wounded over 14,300. Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala earlier estimated the death toll could reach 10,000.

BDST: 2008 HRS, MAY 04, 2015
RR