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Frightening Footage Of The Nepal Earthquake

by Lauren Barbato

The death toll of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday reached 4,000 on Monday as rescuers continue to search through piles of rubble in and around Kathmandu. Nepalese officials said that more than 7,000 people were injured in the disaster, and both the death and injury tolls are expected to climb. On Mount Everest, where at least 18 climbers were killed by an avalanche triggered by the earthquake, search and rescue teams are hurrying to free dozens who remain stranded on the treacherous mountain.

The earthquake caused massive damage in not only Kathmandu, but also in the remote villages surrounding the area. The rural villages near the earthquake's epicenter — about 50 miles outside of Kathmandu — are expected to have the most damage, but reports from those locations have been hindered by destroyed communication lines. Northwest India was also severely impacted by the earthquake, which claimed the lives of at least 60 people there, officials said.

The frightening earthquake rippled quickly through Nepal's capital Saturday, as tourists and residents alike were out and about. Kathmandu is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, attracting thousands of tourists each year. According to BBC News, at least four of the UNESCO sites, including the ancient noble court Durbar Square, have endured severe damage.

On Monday, frightening footage of the earthquake ripping through Kathmandu's Durbar Square emerged online. In the video, which appears to have been filmed from a patio of a restaurant, you can see the square is lively yet peaceful, with people leisurely strolling through.

When the earthquake hits, the camera shakes violently as the person taking the video ducks for cover. Crashing, banging, and panicked screams can be heard off screen as dishes, glasses, and beer bottles are knocked off tables.

As the still-shaking camera moves up toward Durbar Square, buildings can be seen collapsing into dust in the distance. Flocks of birds take off across the sky as the buildings and monuments seem to fall.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake was over in less than 60 seconds. You can watch the full video of this new footage below.

This is the second amateur video of the harrowing disaster in Nepal to surface online over the last two days. On Sunday, footage of the avalanche at Mount Everest taken by a German climber at one of the mountain's base camps went viral. In the video, the climber can be seen diving under his jacket with another climber as a cloud of snow powers toward them. When the climbers emerge from their hideout, covered in white, most of the tents at the base camp are completely flattened.

Seconds before the mountain of snow rushes toward the base camp, Jost Kobusch, the climber taking the video, can be heard saying, "The ground is shaking."

Images: screenshots/Deepak Dhakal