Kathmandu, Nepal – April 25, 2015– A massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake centered less than 50 miles from Kathmandu rocked Nepal with devastating force early Saturday, killing more than 800 people in Nepal’s capital city, authorities said. The number of casualties is expected to rise.

 
The injured were being treated outside hospitals in chaotic scenes. Residents, terrorized by a series of strong aftershocks, huddled outdoors. Historic buildings in Kathmandu lay in rubble on the ground.
The death toll was reported by Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Given that the rescue effort is still in its early stages and that people in outlying areas may well have been affected, as well, it seems possible the number could rise.
Kathmandu, which sits in a valley surround by the Himalayas, has a population of 1 million people.
The quake, which struck at 11:41 local time (05:51 GMT) occurred at a depth of 9.3 miles, which is considered shallow and potentially more damaging than a quake centered deeper under the earth’s crust. It was reported by people in the area has having lasted a very long time. On person said he felt as if he were in a ship on rough seas.
The U.S. Geological Survey had at first rated the temblor at 7.5-magnitude but later upgraded the strength. It reported aftershocks at strengths of 6.6 and 5.1, among others.