Nepal Earthquake Update 2015: Mount Everest Avalanche Kills Google Executive, Among 17 Other Climbers
An avalanche on Mount Everest killed Google executive Dan Fredinburg along with at least 16 other people. The avalanche was triggered by the massive earthquake in Nepal, ABC News reports.
Nepal's capital of Kathmandu's powerful earthquake killed more than 2,500 people not including deaths in neighboring countries, USA Today reports.
"Sadly, we lost one of our own in this tragedy. Dan Fredinburg, a long-time member of the Privacy organization in Mountain View, was in Nepal with three other Googlers, hiking Mount Everest," Google's Director of Privacy Lawrence You wrote in a statement.
"He has passed away. The other three Googlers with him are safe, and we are working to get them home quickly. ... Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and with Dan's family and friends during this terrible time."
Fredinburg was a Mount Everest team member for the climbing group Jagged Globe.
The organization wrote, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan's family and friends whilst we pray too for all those who have lost their lives in one of the greatest tragedies ever to hit this Himalayan nation."
Saturday's earthquake had a 7.8 magnitude, strong enough to rock parts of India, Bangladesh, China's region of Tibet and Pakistan.
It has been 80 years since Nepal has experienced such a devastating earthquake.
People slept outside in tents and in cars for fear of more quakes. Aftershocks occurred on Sunday as Kathmandu's International airport reopened allowing doctors and volunteers to save lives.
"Day two is just as bad as day one. We get the aftershocks every five minutes," said Basanta Adhikari of Biratnagar, in eastern Nepal.
The earthquake caused the Mount Everest avalanche that slammed into the mountain's base camp. At least 17 people were killed in the avalanche while 61 others were injured.
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