The 7.3 magnitude earthquake caused more buildings to crumble even as the country is still reeling from the massive devastation two weeks ago.
Video captured by the Canadian Red Cross shows rocks tumbling down a mountain north of Kathmandu.
As the latest quake compounds ongoing relief efforts in Nepal, Filipino-American doctors and medical workers have pitched in.
Top Fil-Am doctor in California Herminigildo Valle recalled the scene as the quake struck midday Tuesday.
"The whole building was shaking really hard and then there was this loud noise. When I go to the streets, I saw everybody, a lot of people running in all directions crying and yelling and people just lying on the ground," Dr. Valle said.
Officials say the epicenter was midway between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, close to the Chinese border.
Its tremors were powerful enough to be felt as far away as New Delhi, India, where several people also died.
As Dr. Valle visits the remote regions of Nepal to offer medical support, he said the devastation is simply staggering.
"I haven't seen this much death and destruction. You see people living in tarpaulin tents from 90 year olds to 3 year olds with cast on the leg. The worst thing is the smell. I could still smell the dead in the area.
Valle said he was supposed to go back to the devastated area of Sindhupalchowk, which is known for its treacherous terrain, but was lucky not to have made the trip when the latest quake struck.
"Maybe by the grace of God, we were supposed to go back there this morning. That terrain is like 10 times that of Kennon Road in Baguio with the road going the side of the mountain and with that kind of earthquake you never know what's gonna happen to the highway, the landslides and all. So today was my lucky day. Someone was watching over me," he said.
Rescue helicopters have been sent to remote areas.
Officials fear the death toll may rise even further with reports of people buried under the rubble near the Himalayas.
More Filipino-American nurses under the California Nurses Association will be deployed in the coming days to help in the medical efforts.
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source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
