Over 1,100 killed as Nepal rocked by 7.9 magnitude earthquake

More than 1,100 people have been killed in Nepal after a powerful earthquake caused extensive damage, including in the capital Kathmandu. The magnitude 7.9 quake was the strongest to hit the country in 80 years, according to police, and tremors could be felt hundreds of miles away in northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Tibet. At least 634 were reported dead in the Kathmandu Valley and at least 300 more in the capital.

It was a pretty massive earthquake here, the strongest I’ve ever felt in my life.

Photojournalist Nayantara, who is in Pokhara, speaking to Sky News

The quake toppled Kathmandu’s iconic nine-storey Dharahara tower, with rescuers left scrambling to reach some 50 people reported to have been trapped under the rubble. Earlier police removed around a dozen bodies from the 19th Century UNESCO-recognised monument, also known as the Bhimsen Tower. The quake struck 80km (50 miles) east of the central city of Pokhara shortly before noon local time. It was followed by a magnitude 6.6 aftershock. Little is yet known about the extent of damage to Pokhara, but in the densely-populated city of Kathmandu hospitals are struggling to cope.

Shocking news about the earthquake in Nepal - the UK will do all we can to help those caught up in it.

Prime Minister David Cameron, on Twitter

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