Nepal Earthquake: Death Toll Surpasses 8,500 While Hollywood Actress Michelle Yeoh Urges International Community To Help
The death toll from the earthquake is the deadliest record in the history of Nepal while Hollywood actress calls for international help for the Nepalis.
According to International Business Times, on May 17, the home ministry of Nepal has marked the earthquake as the "deadliest on record" as the death toll surpassed 8,500.
The site wrote that the death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25 and another major 7.4 magnitude earthquake on May 12 now stands at 8,583.
However, the rescue teams are still working around to recover the missing people from the remote villages.
The prime minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala said that an estimated 58 foreigners have died from the said disaster while 112 are still missing.
For reference, the last major earthquake that struck the Himalayan country was in 1934, where about 8,519 people were reported dead,
Meanwhile, Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh, who has been stranded in Nepal at one point, has joined the relief effort in Kathmandu and urged the international community "who are living a good safe life at home" to lend an assistance to the survivors of the Nepal earthquake, cited BBC.
Gulf Times added that the "Crouching Tiger" actress and Jean Todt, the UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, have raised funds for the victims of the earthquake in Nepal and pledge to raise more.
"My friends in the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Europe made some contributions and more help is the pipeline," she said. The site added that "Todt's FIA has announced to contribute 100,000 euros for relief and rehabilitation."
Moreover, Michelle Yeoh has recalled her experience seeing the victims of the earthquake. She said, "I came across many babies who still need immediate health attention. We have to nourish them and, of course, rehabilitate their mothers who still are in shock."
"Providing tents is the temporary relief at this point in time. But we have to provide then new accommodation, which can't be built overnight. If we are reaching out to them now, we have to be with them for years," she added.
