A major magnitude 7.3 earthquake has hit Nepal two weeks after the maginitude 7.8 quake in April. From the BBC:
A major earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest, two weeks after more than 8,000 people died in a devastating quake.
At least 37 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured, officials say. At least 17 have also died in India.
The latest earthquake hit near the town of Namche Bazaar and sent thousands of panicked residents on to the streets of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.
The quake comes just as life was starting to return to normal in the capital. Many NGOs and overseas volunteers are already in the country dealing with the earlier quake. Some of their facilities are reported to have been damaged.
The British coordinating body, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which made an appeal on behalf of its 13 member charities reported yesterday that the UK public had given £50 million (@$75 million) since its Nepal appeal was launched on April 30. They have announced the appeal will now run until the end of October and funds raised can be used for thevictims of both quakes:
The DEC has this morning confirmed that its Nepal Earthquake Appeal will allow its member agencies to provide support to people affected by today’s [Tues 12 May, 2015] earthquake. Donations to the appeal will be accepted until 31.10.15 via www.dec.org.uk or by telephone on 0370 60 60 900.
The reported 7.3 magnitude quake (USGS – as of 10am BST) struck a relatively remote area 47 miles east of Kathmandu at 8.05am BST. DEC member agency staff in Kathmandu reported strong shaking in the city. There is a risk that some buildings already weakened by the 25 April quake will have collapsed.
The border town of Kodari was significantly closer to the epicentre and may have experienced very strong to severe shaking.