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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck Nepal today, killing at least 71 people in the densely populated Kathmandu Valley and triggering avalanches in the Himalayas, including Mount Everest.
Damage is heavy and officials say at least 30 people on Everest were injured. At least 30 people died in neighboring countries, including at least 20 in India.
The magnitude 7.8 quake struck before noon today, local time and was followed by a magnitude-6.6 aftershock.
There are reports of collapsed buildings, including centuries-old temples in the Himalayan country's worst temblor in over 80 years.
A senior mountaineering guide says the avalanche swept the face of Mt. Everest after the massive earthquake, while government officials say at least 30 people have been injured on the mountain.
Details are unclear since communications are limited but an official says the avalanche did not appear to have hit the base camp itself.
The earthquake also shook several cities across northern India, and was felt as far away as Lahore in Pakistan, Lhasa in Tibet, 340 miles east of Kathmandu, and in Bangladesh.
Sound:
%@AP Links
001-r-10-(sound of people on a street in Kathmandu, after the earthquake struck)--Sound of people on a street in Kathmandu after the earthquake struck. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *001 (04/25/15)££ 00:10
019-c-11-(Muneeza Naqvi (moo-NEE'-zuh NAHK'-vee), AP correspondent)-"of northeast India"-AP correspondent Muneeza Naqvi reports that the quake was so large it was felt in India and Pakistan as well as Nepal. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *019 (04/25/15)££ 00:11 "of northeast India"
021-c-13-(Muneeza Naqvi (moo-NEE'-zuh NAHK'-vee), AP correspondent)-"being brought in"-AP correspondent Muneeza Naqvi reports early word is that there's extensive damage in Kathmandu. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *021 (04/25/15)££ 00:13 "being brought in"
023-c-09-(Muneeza Naqvi (moo-NEE'-zuh NAHK'-vee), AP correspondent)-"a big one"-AP correspondent Muneeza Naqvi reports that aftershocks are also a concern. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *023 (04/25/15)££ 00:09 "a big one"
022-c-07-(Muneeza Naqvi (moo-NEE'-zuh NAHK'-vee), AP correspondent)-"in several parts"-AP correspondent Muneeza Naqvi reports that it's difficult to get information from the damaged areas right now. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *022 (04/25/15)££ 00:07 "in several parts"
029-a-12-(Randy Baldwin, geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, in AP interview this morning)-"for several months"-U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Randy Baldwin says potential damage could drag out for quite awhile. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *029 (04/25/15)££ 00:12 "for several months"
094-r-14-(Sound of chaos as hundreds of people running down a street, in Nepal's capital Kathmandu)--Sound of chaos as hundreds of people running down a street of Nepal's capital after a powerful earthquake shook the densely populated Kathmandu valley. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *094 (04/25/15)££ 00:14
095-r-12-(Sound of people on top of rubble, in Nepal's capital Kathmandu)--Sound of people climbing on top of rubble of a building destroyed during a powerful earthquake which has hit Nepal's capital Kathmandu. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *095 (04/25/15)££ 00:12
024-c-17-(Muneeza Naqvi (moo-NEE'-zuh NAHK'-vee), AP correspondent)-"city of Kathmandu"-AP correspondent Muneeza Naqvi reports the 7.9 earthquake is the worst one to hit there in more than 80 years. (25 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *024 (04/25/15)££ 00:17 "city of Kathmandu"
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