Nepal earthquake death toll ‘could reach 10,000’

Prime Minister Shushil Koraila said that, as information from remote locations is yet to be reported, the death toll could exceed 10,000. This would exceed the largest previous disaster death toll – the 1934 earthquake that killed 8,500 people.

“The government is doing all it can for rescue and relief on a war footing,” Mr Koirala said. “It is a challenge and a very difficult hour for Nepal.”

Entire villages have been wiped out in Nepal and according to reports 1,4m people are in need of food and water. Medical staff and military personnel from across the world are assisting in efforts to reach those stranded in remote areas.

Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross Society, said Sherpas would be needed to help reach remote areas where survivors may be cut off.

“The difficulty we face here is that everyone is in need,” he said. “Every day we have had crowds coming to our office asking for tarpaulin sheets. It’s a supply and demand problem. We simply cannot help everyone.

“Hopefully, when the aftershocks subside, many people will be able to return to their homes. We are planning the next phase of the response. Thousands of people have no homes to return to, and will need to be moved into tents.”

The British government has sent a C-17 jet “loaded with British Army Ghurka engineers and equipment” to the region, as well as a DfID Boeing 767 of rescue teams and supplies. 60 British personnel are on the ground also giving assistance, the British foreign secretary said.

Mr Hammond also said the Foreign Office was investigating reports about a British national living outside the UK having been killed in Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

Reports from Nepal say the confirmed death toll is currently over 5,000 people.