100 Irish thought to be in Nepal earthquake zone
100 Irish people are now believed to have been caught up in the earthquake that has devastated parts of Nepal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says contact is being made with many of these people however it is warning that this is taking time due to the impact on the communications network in the devastated country.
The Department established an emergency Consular Response Team yesterday anyone who is concerned about family or friends can contact 01 478 0822.
The death toll following yesterday's earthquake in the heavily crowded Kathmandu valley in Nepal has passed 2,400 people.
17 people have also been killed following a number of aftershocks which triggered more avalanches on Mount Everest this morning.
Blog: Saved by a bowl of soup in quake-hit Nepal http://t.co/wxdQAlASH2 pic.twitter.com/lfTFgsAvmo
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) April 26, 2015
The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck at a busy time with an estimated 300-thousand tourists in the country at the time.
Death toll in #NepalEarthquake rises past 2,100 as rescuers continue search for survivors: http://t.co/4pPpR7Vn68 pic.twitter.com/4PxXLyR4DO
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) April 26, 2015
Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending additional medical and non-medical teams to assist victims on the ground.
Jane-Anne McKenna is Director of Médecins Sans Frontières, she says that four MSF teams departed this morning from India and are currently at the border with the authorities.
"We also have a surgical team on route, which will set up a surgical unit as well as mobile clinics for people in more remote areas. The airport in Kathmandu was closed due to the risk of aftershocks so we sent teams in from across the Indian border," said McKenna.
Aftershocks hit after the Nepal earthquake that killed over 2,200 people http://t.co/gDhiBpZSHt pic.twitter.com/Ucb478ssEC
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 26, 2015
