Nepal's earthquake to become their worst disaster in history: Death counts increase, relief operations slow

The death count passes the 5,000 mark.

Nepal's earthquake reaches a death toll of 5,057 as of Tuesday reports, the Prime Minister of Nepal believes it could reach up to 10,000 people, considering the rescue and retrieval operations are still trying to reach the "flattened" areas of the country.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Prime Minister Sushil Koirala explained the government is doing everything they can for the rescue and relief operations.

However, most people who survived the massive earthquake disaster are angered towards the slow operations. Nepal is reported as running short of necessary supplies, like food and water, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

"The government is doing all it can for rescue and relief on a war footing. It is a challenge and a very difficult hour for Nepal," said Prime Minister Koirala in an interview with Reuters. Reports still cannot confirm the final statistics for the death toll without the operations reaching other regions. Nepal's worst disaster recorded was a massive earthquake in 1934, leaving 8,500 dead.

Health workers are worried of a major health crisis occurring among the survivors who have no access to sanitation and clean waters, as well as their living arrangements: open or overcrowded tents.

After surveying the area of Gorkha, the region near the epicenter, through helicopters, the aid workers also remarked that the villages within the areas were left debris.

"In some villages, about 90 percent of the houses have collapsed. They're just flattened," said Rebecca McAteer, an American physician present at the location.

According to the top official of Gorkha, Udav Prashad Timalsina, the people remaining were not being reached for food or shelter. "It does not seem aid is reaching here very quickly," said Matt Darvas, a World Vision aid worker who came to the devastated Gorkha on Monday. Rescue and relief operations were getting more difficult due to the extent of devastation.

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