Over 1000 dead in Nepal quake, deadly avalanche on Everest

KATHMANDU: A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 1000 people Saturday as it ripped through large parts of Nepal, toppling office blocks and towers in Kathmandu and triggering a deadly avalanche that hit Everest base camp.

Police said the death toll has crossed 1000 in Nepal, making it the worst earthquake there in more than 80 years.

"Rescue efforts are still under way. We fear that the toll might rise as we dig through the rubble."

Emergency workers fanned out across the Himalayan nation to rescue those trapped under collapsed homes, buildings and other debris.

"Deaths have been reported from all regions except the far west. All our security personnel have been deployed to rescue and assist those in need," Bam told AFP.

Officials said 10 people were killed when an avalanche buried parts of Mount Everest´s base camp in Nepal where hundreds of mountaineers have gathered at the start of the annual climbing season.

"We don´t have the details yet, but 10 have been reported dead so far, including foreign climbers," Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha, an official in Nepal´s tourism department, told AFP.

"An avalanche from Mt. Pumori has hit the base camp, burying a part of it," Shrestha said earlier.

"We are trying to assess how many are injured. There might be over 1,000 people there right now, including foreign climbers and Nepalese supporting staff."

AFP Nepal bureau chief Ammu Kannampilly, on an assignment to Everest together with a colleague, was among those caught up in the chaos.

"We are both ok...snowing here so no choppers coming," she said in an SMS on approach to base camp. "I hurt my hand - got it bandaged and told to keep it upright to stop the bleeding."

Experienced mountaineers said panic erupted at base camp which had been "severely damaged", while one described the avalanche as "huge".

"Huge disaster. Helped searched and rescued victims through huge debris area. Many dead. Much more badly injured. More to die if not heli asap," tweeted Romanian climber Alex Gavan from base camp.