Rescue and relief efforts underway after Nepal quake

(Vatican Radio) Rescue and relief efforts have stepped up following a devastating earthquake which killed more than 2,200 people on Saturday in Nepal. There were also powerful aftershocks on Sunday in the country as doctors and relief workers from neighboring countries began arriving to help.

Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Devendra Tak, Media Manager for Save the Children, India.

Saturday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake was the worst to hit the South Asian nation in over 80 years.

The force of the quake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest killing 17 people.

People who survived the massive tremor slept outside or in cars and public buses for fear of more quakes.

Devendra Tak is the Media Manager for Save the Children, India. He told Vatican Radio the death toll could rise.“There have been almost 30 to 40 aftershocks in the last 24 hours so it’s very hard to determine the actual casualties, maybe more that have not yet been recognized.”

He also spoke of the difficulties in reaching survivors saying, “ you can imagine if the roads have been knocked off, you don’t know the damage to bridges etc, and this is mountain territory…”

People, Mr Tak added need “drinking water, they need food, they need clothing, they need shelter and they need medicine and first aid.”

The Indian government has been providing support with the Indian air force, flying in 43 tons of relief material, including tents and food, and nearly 200 rescuers.