Home »
Locals survive Nepal earthquake
Many East Kootenay residents are big-time travellers and a few of them recently survived a big-time international event – the recent 7.8 earthquake that shattered a region near Kathmandu, Nepal on April 25.
More than 3,800 people have been confirmed dead and about 7,000 were injured when the quake occurred.
Cranbrook residents Alex and Tricia McLeod were trekking in Nepal when the devastating earthquake hit.
The couple are safe, but lucky to be alive, reported friend Dennis Parsons in the Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club ‘Sunriser’ newsletter.
“The brick building that they were staying in collapsed and their Sherpa dove on top of Tricia and he took a brick in the head. They had stopped for the night and were eating when the earthquake struck. They went to bed in a wooden building and were sleeping in their clothes with their backpacks right beside them, in case of an aftershock. Eventually another after shock did hit and they ended up in a self refuge camp with about 50 other people. The Sherpa who took the brick to the head was becoming dizzy but they couldn’t get to a hospital,” Parsons wrote.
“As of Sunday morning Alex and Tricia are in a small place in the mountains called Shurke. That area was not badly damaged, so people in the town were opening their homes to the refugees. Alex and Tricia got to sleep in a real bed, but only for three hours as it was then time for someone else to use the bed. Their Sherpa is still with them, still experiencing dizzy spells and they are not able to get him to a hospital. The town of Shurke does have a helicopter pad, and they have heard two helicopters in the area, but have not seen them.”
Parson explained the small group has now “trekked to another town called Lukla which does have a hospital. The Sherpa was checked out, is okay and was placed on antibiotics. They were staying in a teahouse, which does not have power, but the host did cook them a meal. The town is very busy because of the hospital. Helicopters are flying all day evacuating on a triage system so Alex and Tricia have no expectations of flying out soon.
“The group they are with is concerned about running out of resources soon, so they are going to move on to a smaller town named Chuplung, and about 1.5 hour trek from where they were this morning. They are experiencing after shocks, and have changed their plans to go to Kathmandu,” Parsons related in his Sunriser account.
Another East Kootenay resident, Kimberley’s Robyn Duncan, was readying to fly home when the earthquake struck. Luckily she and her travel companion escaped harm.
“Thanks for all the lovely messages of concern. We are okay, incredibly lucky, and currently camped in an American military compound until we can get out. My heart breaks for Nepal, who has been ravaged. Recovery efforts still ongoing, but aid has started to arrive. My reality will change soon, but theirs will not. Please send all good thoughts and energy to the people whose lives have been irreparably changed forever,” Duncan posted on Facebook.
A Kimberley business owner has already taken steps to try and raise money and awareness for Nepal.
Mountain City Travel owner Diane Manson said the earthquake will have shaken many residents of the East Kootenay, even if they weren’t in Nepal.
“Living in the Kootenays I am among many, many trekkers having been pulled to the glorious mountains of Nepal. The Nepalese people are humble, kind, resourceful, and gracious. Anyone who has been to Nepal has been touched and felt privileged to have visited this proud country,” she said.
“Along with the world, I was blindsided with the devastating news of a 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. One can hardly imagine the level of chaos, grief, and fear that the Nepalese people are experiencing from this catastrophe.
“When crisis hits, and hits close to the heart, I grasp for what I can do to help – knowing full well I’m unable to be ‘on the ground’ assisting. Nepal needs financial help – with no donation being too small. Thousands of small gestures will help to rebuild shattered lives. If you cannot help, someone you know can. My request is to ask you to share this with your family, friends, colleagues and social networks,” Manson asked in an email to e-KNOW. She also shared information on how people can help.
HOW TO HELP: Donate to PLANETERRA, a non-profit Canadian Foundation, (administrative costs covered by G Adventures, an Adventure Travel Company that Mountain City Travel works closely with). PLANETERRA is currently working with their Nepalese team and partners, identifying the right local organization to work with, to ensure the money raised has the greatest possible positive impact in helping the people most in need, and in putting a shattered country back together. One hundred per cent of your donation will go directly toward these efforts,” she related.
To donate click on “Nepal Earthquake” and please spread the word by clicking “Share,” Manson urges.
Lead image: A youngster surveys the carnage following the quake. Image from Youtube
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
