Panic. Tears. Fear.
All those feelings and more permeated cities, villages and camps around Nepal on Saturday, after a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck around midday.
Hours later, after a wave of relentless aftershocks, many people still were too scared to go back inside any buildings. Others crowded around rubble, including men and women racing to rescue those trapped. And then are the hundreds already confirmed dead, not to mention the hundreds more who suffered injuries.
Below are some accounts from witnesses in the mountainous Asian nation, in their own words.
Brabim Kumar in Kathmandu
Kumar posted a photo of people in his neighborhood sheltering in a makeshift tent after the quake.
He sent updates via Twitter about what he was seeing in the Lalitpur District of Kathmandu.
“It’s getting dark, no power and no water supply in Lalitpur area, but people are helping each other with food and other items
“Almost everyone staying outside home…Hard time for small kids & older people
“People are very worried & are planning to stay out on the street overnight, but they lack sufficient food & water.”
Kashish Das Shrestha in Kathmandu
“Some of the historical sites are completely devastated.
“Most of the people — a lot of the people — are walking through the city. They’re confused and scared. A lot of people are crying.
“They’re out with their pets and their families and a lot of locals are volunteering in rescue operations.
“In several parts of Kathmandu, a lot of people seem trapped under the rubble. Locals are trying to rescue these people because they can still hear them.”
Journalist Shiwani Neupane in Khathmandu
“We are scared and waiting for the tremors to end. We are all sitting outside because there is more news of another quake.
“There is no power and families are listening to the FM radio inside their cars. News of multiple building collapses.
“I’ve seen many cracked walls and roads and buildings.
“The Dharahara was packed with people a while ago. There are police everywhere trying to move rubble to make space on the roads for ambulances. Everyone is very scared. “
Journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, Kathmandu
“I see many cracked buildings and people are panicked and all running down to the streets.
“The main landmark in Kathmandu is a spire, Dharahara, and it has fallen down, it is about 140 feet high in the center city.
“Another aftershock is hitting now, it is really strong.
“Airplanes are circling now overhead and helicopters are flying and not clear if the airport is open. We hear it is damaged.”
Journalist Manesh Shreshtra, Kathmandu
“Many historic buildings have collapsed in the city.
“In all my years I have never seen such a big earthquake here.
“There are sometimes small shaking, sometimes bigger but this is the worst and my home has been cracked and it is a relatively strong house.”
John Parajuli, U.N. Development Programme, Kathmandu
“Around where I am, people are in open spaces. There have been several aftershocks, I think they’re all waiting, hoping they know what to do.
“You can see glass walls, portions of buildings and cracks in the building. People are confused. they’re staying out in the open.”
