A second major earthquake shook Nepal on Tuesday afternoon, local time.
The , the commercial hub of the Khumbu valley, through which climbers trek on their way to Everest Base Camp. This is the largest quake or aftershock since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 25 and killed more than 8,000 people. Thus far, according to local reports, 29 people have been killed in the May 12 earthquake.
Though the April 25 earthquake did cause property damage and death in the Khumbu valley, it was not the hardest hit of regions in Nepal. That earthquake's epicenter was Barpak, in the Gorkha district, which is more than 100 miles from the Khumbu valley. Damage this time—particularly when there is a high risk of avalanche—could be much more severe.
This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
Update: Namche Bazaar was not the epicenter of the earthquake. (This post has been changed to reflect that information.) near Kodari, approximately 40 miles west of Namche Bazaar. Initial reports from those in the region indicate that there was severe structural damage to nearly all villages in the Khumbu valley.
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