Powerful 7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Nepal, Tremors Felt In New Delhi, North East India

This story has been updated.

Update, 2:14 p.m. EDT:Another jolt of unknown magnitude was felt in Kathmandu Valley, as government officials continued to assess the death toll, according to India's IBN Live. At least 15 aftershocks had been recorded by the USGS. So far at least 1,500 people are said to have died as a result of the quake and authorities expect that number to rise as the day continues.

Update, 11:44 a.m. EDT: The Nepal earthquake death toll has reached 1,130, a police spokesman told Reuters.

Update, 10:13 a.m. EDT: Officials have increased the their estimate of those killed in Nepal's earthquake to 876, BBC News reported. Many more are feared to be trapped under rubble.

Update, 8:37 a.m. EDT: The Nepal earthquake death toll has risen to 758, a home-ministry official said, according to Reuters.

Update, 8:00 a.m. EDT: Nepal officials reported at least 688 had died because of the major earthquake in the country Saturday, the Associated Press said.

Update, 5:28 a.m. EDT: More than 150 people have died in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu as the result of a powerful magnitude-7.9 earthquake Saturday, CNN reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

A Reuters reporter in Kathmandu said he had seen some buildings collapse and walls of several houses reduced to rubble. “Everyone is out in the streets, people are rushing to the hospital,” the reporter said.

In addition, mountaineer Alex Gavan tweeted that the quake had caused an avalanche on Mount Everest.

Update, 4:14 a.m. EDT: Dharahara Tower, a 19th century nine-story building in Kathmandu, collapsed after a powerful earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, with local reports saying that nearly 400 people are believed to be trapped, the Indian television news channel CNN-IBN reported.

Original Article Appears Below

A powerful earthquake struck Nepal and parts of northern India on Saturday, causing buildings in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, to collapse, leaving many people injured and two dead, according to reports.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at magnitude 7.9. Local media reported that some houses were damaged and buildings collapsed due to strong tremors, which were also felt in the Indian capital of New Delhi and in the northeastern region of the country.

The two dead were both girls, one aged 15, who was killed in northern India after the earthquake brought down the wall of her home in a village near the border with Nepal, Reuters reported.

Another girl was killed by a falling statue in a town outside Kathmandu, according to Nepal's state radio.

“We felt the tremors in Gurgaon for about a minute and we all rushed out of our building. The aftershock came about 25 minutes later, lasted for 20 seconds,” Namrata Malhotra, a resident of Gurgaon, about 18 miles south of New Delhi, told International Business Times.

According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Center, the epicenter of the earthquake was 83 kilometers (51.5 miles) north west of Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, many people also shared photos on social media that showed collapsed buildings. However, the authenticity of the images cannot be verified.

According to the USGS, seismic activities in the Himalayas and the vicinity mainly result from the continental collision of India and Eurasia plates.

“Northward underthrusting of India beneath Eurasia generates numerous earthquakes and consequently makes this area one of the most seismically hazardous regions on Earth,” the USGS said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.