19 Year Old Bailey Meola & Sydney Schumacher from Seattle, WA Still Missing in Nepal Trekking the Langtang Valley Trail

Two teens from Seattle, Washington, 19 year old Bailey Meola and Sydney Schumacher, have been missing since April 25, 2015 in Nepal. According to the family, an anthropologist reported seeing the two on April 24, just one day before a 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal and aftershocks destroyed nearby villages.  The two girls had been trekking the Langtang Valley trail; however, on Tuesday, the family received news that the girls are not in the village, Kyanjin Gumba, where it had been reported that there were no known survivors.

The death toll from the earthquake in Nepal has risen to more than 4,600 — and many more people are unaccounted for, including two teens from Seattle.

The Meola and Schumacher families are staying optimistic that they will find their 19-year-old daughters, Bailey Meola and Sydney Schumacher.

The two girls had been trekking the Langtang trail. On Tuesday, they got news that the girls are not in the village, Kyanjin Gumba, where there are known survivors.

The teens had just graduated from Garfield High School and were taking an around-the-world trip, with a stop in Nepal.

Seattle teenage trekkers among the missing in Nepal.

Both young women are described as experienced hikers, who began exploring the outdoors when they were toddlers. The teens are trained in first aid and CPR, their parents said.

“The odds of them being injured are very high if they were in Langtang, but people have survived in that area. They’ve gotten out of the avalanche,” said Rachelle Brown, Bailey’s mother. “We’re just very optimistic. We think our girls have the resources. They have the skills. They have the experience.”

Both girls are traveling around the world after graduating from Seattle’s Garfield High School in 2014. Meola started her trip in Thailand earlier this year, also visiting Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos. She wanted to take a “gap year” and explore the world before heading to college, her parents said.

The families have turned to social media for help, hoping for word of the girls’ safety through Twitter or other forums. They’ve been using a Facebook page for people missing in the Langtang Valley, along with a Google spreadsheet.

Mt. Everest Avalanche Caught On Video After Massive Earthquake Hits Nepal on 4/25/15

Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal, a deadly avalanche was caught on video at the Mt. Everest as it swept through an unsuspecting base camp.

The deadly avalanche that swept through the Mt. Everest base camp after Saturday’s massive earthquake in Nepal was caught on video by a German climber.

“The ground is shaking,” someone shouts as the footage begins.

Moments later, climbers in the distance begin to run before the avalanche itself is visible. Then, within seconds, the camera fills with a fast-moving cloud, signaling the advance of the avalanche.

 Warning: Video includes strong language

UPDATE I: Climbers trapped on Mount Everest ‘are getting desperate’.

Helicopter teams began evacuating critically injured climbers at Mount Everest’s base camp Sunday morning, but the effort came to an abrupt halt when a significant new aftershock triggered more avalanches and fears of additional casualties at the world’s highest peak.

Dozens of climbers and Sherpas, their Nepali guides, remain trapped on the side of the mountain at two camps that sit above where the avalanche fell, climbers said in tweets and other social-
media posts. Ropes and other equipment left in place to help them descend had been swept away in Saturday’s avalanche.

Daniel Mazur, a climber trapped at Camp 1, tweeted Sunday “Aftershock @ 1 pm! Horrible here in camp 1 Avalanches on 3 sides. C1 [Camp 1] a tiny island. We worry about the icefall team below. Alive?”

7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Nepal … Killing More than 1,000 People (Update: More Than 1,900 Killed in Quake)(Update: Death Toll More Than 3,700)(Update: Nepal Death Toll at 5,045 Deaths)

7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Nepal …

A  7.8 magnitude earthquake has stuck Nepal in an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara. The government is reporting that nearly 700 people have died from the massive earthquake; however, the numbers are  sadly expected top rise. The earthquake is the worst one in Nepal in 81 years as it toppling a 19th-century tower in the capital Kathmandu and touching off a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest.

Nearly 1,000 are known to have died in a powerful earthquake in Nepal, with many more feared trapped under rubble, officials say.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara, the US Geological Survey said.

Tremors were felt across the region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh, Tibet and on Mount Everest.

The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas.

A national police spokesman told the BBC that 970 people had died in the quake, and that more than 1,700 had been injured. At least 539 people were killed in the Kathmandu valley, he added.

Nepali Information Minister Minendra Rijal said there had been “massive damage” at the epicentre, from where little information is emerging.

UPDATE I: At Least 1,457 Dead After Massive Earthquake Strikes Nepal.

A massive earthquake near the capital of Nepal killed at least 1,457 people today as it collapsed temples and triggered an avalanche on Mt. Everest.

The magnitude-7.8 quake hit about 50 miles northwest of Kathmandu just before noon local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The death toll, estimated by the Nepalese Army, was expected to rise, said officials.

Another 1,055 were injured, said the country’s finance minister, Ram Sharan Mahat. It’s the worst earthquake in Nepal in over 80 years, according to the Associated Press.

CNN – 7.8 magnitude quake slams Nepal; hundreds dead

UPDATE II: Devastating Nepal quake kills over 1,000, some in Everest avalanche.

A powerful earthquake struck Nepal and sent tremors through northern India on Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people, toppling a 19th-century tower in the capital Kathmandu and touching off a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest.

There were reports of devastation in outlying, isolated mountainous areas after the midday quake of magnitude 7.9, Nepal’s worst in 81 years, centered 50 miles (80 km) east of the second city, Pokhara.

As fears grew of a humanitarian disaster in the impoverished Himalayan nation of 28 million, an overwhelmed government appealed for foreign help. India was first to respond by sending in military aircraft with medical equipment and relief teams.

A police official said the death toll in Nepal alone had reached 1,130, more than half of them in the Kathmandu Valley. A further 36 fatalities were reported in northern India, 12 in Chinese Tibet and four in Bangladesh.

UPDATE III: Everest climbers jolted; at least 8 dead at base camp.

A powerful earthquake in Nepal sparked a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest on Saturday, killing at least eight people at the base camp.

The base camp is where journalists, climbers and their families gather and get news to the world about developments at Everest, the world’s highest mountain above sea level.

At least one team of climbers on Everest appears to be safe after a few hours of anguish in which the expedition leader asked for prayers on social media in the wake of the massive earthquake in Nepal.

UPDATE IV: The Guardian – Nepal earthquake: death toll exceeds a thousand – live updates.

• More than 1,000 people have been reported dead after a huge 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal
• The country’s deputy prime minister, Bamdev Gautam, has declared a state of emergency and appealed for humanitarian assistance across the region.
• 18 climbers were found dead on Mount Everest after the tremor triggered an avalanche. Many more are trapped.
• The total death toll has risen quickly throughout the day, and is now thought to include at least 634 in the Kathmandu Valley and 300 more in the capital.
• 36 people have also been reported dead India, 12 in China, four in Bangladesh and six in Tibet.
• The quake caused dozens of buildings in Kathmandu to collapse, including the historic Dharahara Tower.

UPDATE V: More than 1,900 killed by 7.8-magnitude quake in Nepal.

At nightfall, Nepal’s capital became a tent city, as thousands of residents displaced by Saturday’s devastating earthquake stayed in their dark gardens and out on the cracked streets and lanes, afraid to go back inside because of waves of aftershocks, including a powerful jolt Sunday that the U.S. Geological Survey said measured 6.7 magnitude and which sent people fleeing for open ground and safety.

It had been a pleasant Saturday morning, with families just sitting down to lunch and tourists thronging to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square when the temblor hit, a horrible rocking motion that seemed to go on without end. The quake was ultimately felt across South Asia — in Lahore, in New Delhi, in Dhaka. Snow avalanched down Mount Everest. Buildings fell, mud-joined huts collapsed. By the end of the night, more than 1,900 lay dead, Nepalese officials said, with countless more injured.

UPDATE VI: Death toll from a devastating earthquake rose past 3,700.

Rescue workers raced to reach remote rural villages in Nepal Monday as the official death toll from a devastating earthquake rose past 3,700 and threatened to climb.

Nepal police said in a statement Monday that the country’s death toll had risen to 3,617 people. That number does not include the 18 people confirmed dead in an avalanche that swept through the Mount Everest base camp in the wake of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake. Another 61 people were killed in neighboring India. China reported that 20 people had died in Tibet.

Reports received so far by the government and aid groups suggest that many communities perched on mountainsides are devastated or struggling to cope. Udav Prashad Timalsina, the top official for the Gorkha district, near the epicenter of Saturday’s quake, said he was in desperate need of help.

“There are people who are not getting food and shelter. I’ve had reports of villages where 70 percent of the houses have been destroyed,” he said.

Nepal quake: Death toll passes 3,700 amid fears of devastation in rural areas.

The death toll in Nepal from the earthquake that struck two days ago has risen to 3,726, Nepalese police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam said Monday.

As the death toll from Nepal’s worst earthquake in decades surged past 3,400 on Monday, big questions remained about the scale of the devastation in rural areas.

The destruction in Kathmandu, the capital, is stark: Revered temples reduced to rubble, people buried in the wreckage of their homes, hospitals short on medical supplies overflowing with patients. Serious damage is also reported in villages in the surrounding valley.

But farther out across Nepal’s rugged landscape — closer to the epicenter of the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck Saturday — the situation is worryingly murky.

UPDATE VII: The official death toll from Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal has increased.

The official death toll from Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal has increased.

Nepal police late Wednesday reported 5,045 deaths had occurred in Nepal.

It also said more than 10,100 people had been injured and 7,400 of them remained hospitalized.

In addition, 19 people were killed on Mount Everest, 61 people were killed in India and China reported 25 deaths in Tibet.

6.0 Magnitude Earth Quake Northern California, 6 Miles South of Napa … Strongest Quake since 1989 (VIDEO) (Update: Gas Leaks, Fires, 87 People Injured)

6.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS NORTHERN, CA …

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California early Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

It was the strongest to hit the Bay Area since 1989, when a quake struck during the World Series.

Sunday’s earthquake struck 4 miles northwest of American Canyon, 6 miles southwest of Napa, and 9 miles southeast of Sonoma, according to the USGS.

Updates can be read at City of Napa.org.

UPDATE I: LA TIMES – 6.0 quake jolts Bay Area; outages, injuries reported

Following the 6.0 quake, there are reports of gas leaks, downed power lines, homes on fire and injuries.

A long rolling temblor pegged at 6.0 by the U.S. Geological Survey shook a wide swath of the Bay Area awake early Sunday.

Centered about nine miles south of wine country’s Napa at 3:20 a.m., the quake was felt as far south as Santa Cruz and into Sonoma County. It was the largest earthquake to strike the Bay Area since the Loma Prieta temblor of 1989, the USGS said.

A little more than two hours after the quake, a shallow magnitude 3.6 tremor was reported by the USGS. The aftershock occurred at 5:47 a.m. at a depth of 5.0 miles.

Residents reported power outages in Napa, and fire departments in several counties, along with the California Highway Patrol, were on the lookout for damage to bridges.

Reports were beginning to stream in of gas leaks, downed power lines and at least one fire.

Napa County Fire Department confirms they are swamped with calls, including reports of injuries. It is unclear how  severe the injuries are because units are still responding.

UPDATE II: Roads Closed, Thousands Without Power After 6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Napa.

Tens of thousands have lost power after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck American Canyon at 3:20 PT Sunday morning.

The quake, the USGS says, was 6 miles south-southwest of Napa, and 8 miles north-northwest of Vallejo, California. It had a depth of 6.7 miles, they report.

A 2.5 magnitude aftershock was also reported in the same area at 5:01 AM.

Calls regarding broken gas and water mains as well as property damage reports are rolling in at agencies near the quake’s epicenter. However, law enforcement and emergency agencies across the Bay Area are asking residents not to call 911 unless they have an emergency.

The California Highway Patrol is reporting the westbound off-ramp of state Highway 37 and westbound Interstate Highway 80 to state Highway 37 are closed due to possible damage. The CHP is on the scene inspecting the roadways.

PG&E also says that tens of thousands of customers are currently without power across the Bay Area, particularly in Napa and Sonoma counties.

UPDATE III: VIDEO of damage caused by earthquake.

Pic: KTLA Screen Grab – Click HERE to Watch KLTA VIDEO

UPDATE IV: 6.0 earthquake jolts Bay Area; damage and at least 87 injuries reported

A long, rolling temblor pegged at 6.0 by the U.S. Geological Survey shook a wide swath of the Bay Area awake early Sunday, causing damage to buildings and sending at least 87 people to a hospital.

At least three people were seriously hurt, including a child who was flown to Santa Rosa Community Hospital. A spokeswoman at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa said most of its injured patients had cuts, bumps and bruises. Many are being treated and released, but some have been admitted.

The quake caused about 50 gas main breaks and 30 water main leaks. The leaks prompted officials by 7 a.m. to open two evacuation centers at Napa High School and Grace Church of Napa Valley. A number of historic buildings have been damaged, including the Sam Kee Laundry, Goodman Library and the Napa County Courthouse, according to the city.

Major 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off Japan, Creating Small Tsunami Waves (Update: Tsunami Warnings Canceled)

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has hit off of the Northeast coast of Japan that caused tsunami warnings in the area. The earthquake triggered small tsunami waves hit Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture. Tensions were high as this was the same area that suffered the worst damage from the massive 9.0-magnitude quake and resulting tsunami in 2011 that left Japan in ruin with death and destruction.

A powerful earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Friday evening, rattling buildings in Tokyo and setting off a small tsunami.

It also jarred nerves in a nation still recovering from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 that killed thousands of people and triggered the world’s worst nuclear crisis in a quarter century.

Some roads were closed and rail services suspended in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, where a one-meter (3-foot) tsunami rolled ashore. It was followed by four other waves ranging from eight to 16 inches. Only minor injuries were reported immediately, including five in Miyagi and five on the outskirts of Tokyo.

UPDATE I: According to reports the tsunami warnings have been canceled.