Nepal Earthquake: People Around the World Scramble Online to Find Loved Ones · Global Voices
Saprina Panday

Patan durbar square historic infrastructure in Kathmandu, Nepal greatly damaged due to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Image by Sumit Shrestha. Copyright Demotix (25/4/2015)
An overwhelmed Nepali government has declared a state of emergency appealing to the international community following a massive 7.8 earthquake, which struck close to noon on April 25, between Nepal's key cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara, resulting in more than 1,800 deaths.
In the midst of this crisis, people are using tools like Google Person Finder and Facebook Safety Check to find loved ones. Google Person Finder launched in 2010 in response to the earthquake in Haiti and helps people find each other in the aftermath of a disaster, by downloading or uploading data from the site.
Use @google ‘s “Person Finder” help those affected by #NepalQuake http://t.co/lrgqmUD8px pic.twitter.com/9cNdp6MZ9o #Kathmandu
— Kristina Dei (@2kdei) April 25, 2015
Facebook users have also been using the site's newly launched Safety Check tool, where you can mark yourself or a friend in the disaster area as ‘safe’.
These are particularly helpful against the distressing images that have been shared online.
With phone lines and cell towers down, people are also trying to contact loved ones through the Internet.
#earthquake Mobile phone services affected across Nepal
— Times of India (@timesofindia) April 25, 2015
Everyone trying to call #Nepal, please use Viber, WhatsApp and Text Messages. Calling landline is creating congestion, not helpful.
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) April 25, 2015
Three people you must follow for #Nepal quake updates from the ground in Kathmandu — @kundadixit, @KanakManiDixit and @kashishds.
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) April 25, 2015
Only Krishna Mandir and Taleju Temple left standing in Patan Square. Image by Kunda Dixit. Used with permission
Many are relying on social media sites for changes on the ground.
Nepali immigrants are glued to FB for news of loved ones in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of fastest growing diaspora communities.
— Benjamin Mueller (@benjmueller) April 25, 2015
This is when you realize the importance of twitter! When you are far away and you get the information needed! #EarthquakeNepal
— Pallavi Dhakal (@PallaviDhakal) April 25, 2015
Kathmandu’s Patan Durbar Square before and after the #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/KoYNXAjAOr
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) April 25, 2015
#Nepalquake: Buildings collapsed, hundreds feared trapped and injured, phone networks affected. Our team is on standby and ready to assist.
— UN OCHA Asia Pacific (@OCHAAsiaPac) April 25, 2015
BASANTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE IS GONE!!! pic.twitter.com/HnauT0fDia
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 25, 2015
massive damage #earthquakenepal pic.twitter.com/XAN6njWC0N — Achyut Luitel (@achyutluitel) April 25, 2015
Hunkered down in Lobouche, some building damage #earthquake #Everest #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/WKZF1pJmup
— David Arvan (@threadalist) April 25, 2015
The historic tower of Kathmandu, which people use to climb to catch a glimpse of the magnificent city, is gone.
Dharara was seen by my grandfather minutes after it fell in 1934. Today was my turn to see the rebuilt Dharara fall. pic.twitter.com/QWbcJYOgSY
— Kanak Mani Dixit (@KanakManiDixit) April 25, 2015
In the midst of this destruction, hospitals in the capital Kathmandu have been declared inundated. Many  are being treated outside.
TU teaching hospital. #Earthquake injured are getting treatment on open space. Tents are urgent need. pic.twitter.com/Dp2fswi051 — Dipak Bhattarai (@dipakbhattarai) April 25, 2015
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake has caused loss of life in India, Bangladesh and Tibet as well. People are being rescued from under collapsed buildings. The earthquake also affected the base camp at Mount Everest, where it triggered an avalanche.
Incredible @epaphotos image of man trapped by #NepalQuake upto his chest. And he's one of the lucky ones! #Nepal pic.twitter.com/jDBwWvomzv
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) April 25, 2015
The earthquake triggered a wave of fear in the region and as per latest reports 54 people died across the border in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in India. Three people have died in three districts of Bangladesh as tremors jolted the country.
According to some reports, this was a shallow earthquake, making it prone to the terrifying shaking that was felt by all in the region. It is feared that given the nature of the earthquake, and the flimsy state of many buildings in the capital, mainly the older ones, it will not take much for a slight aftershock to result in further destruction and deaths.
180 bodies retrieved under the Dharhara Tower rubble in #Kathmandu in #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/FDFiv2uith
— Rajesh Shenoy (@ranjalrajesh) April 25, 2015
It is a time when many feel helpless.
#afterquake how come you be so rude to us! Please have mercy on people in Nepal! :( #earthquake #NepalQuake God where are you? Shit!
— सृष्टि महर्जन (@twity_seestee) April 25, 2015
And a time of enormous uncertainty.
According to the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Nepal and the region is to continue experiencing constant large aftershocks. The situation may be far from safe.
Almost 7 hrs. since the initial Earthquake, the aftershocks are still continuing. Source : USGS. #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/Vp7UtMSFqW
— Deepti Gupta (@deepti_jbg) April 25, 2015
At the moment, fear of aftershocks has kept many waiting outside their homes.
#Kathmandu in near total darkness as hundreds of thousands spend night in tents. Reports of entire villages razed from near epicentre.
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
Bhandarkhal Garden of Patan Darbar has been turned into a shelter for locals. #Nepalquake pic.twitter.com/goUxIu9O30
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
Some relief is arriving through relief organizations like Oxfam, Save the Children, the Red Cross as well as through the government of India. Here is a link to some charities doing relief work following the earthquake.
The senior vice president of the Times of India tweeted:
@kundadixit @KanakManiDixit 3 IndianAirForce big birds landed in Nepal w/relief teams, anothr w/mobile hospital/35 docs tnite enr — Rachna Burman (@rachnaburman) April 25, 2015
On Facebook, some have thanked India for this gesture. The damage that has been shared through Twitter, however, suggests that a lot more help will be needed, and fast.