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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Heavy damage and dozens of injuries are already being reported after a strong, shallow magnitude-7.9 earthquake shook Nepal's capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley.
Officials report toppled walls and collapsed buildings. One resident in the capital says collapsed buildings include centuries-old temples in Old Kathmandu, a warren of tightly packed, narrow lanes with poorly constructed homes piled on top of each other. National radio warned people to stay outdoors in case of aftershocks.
The quake was felt in New Delhi, India and in Pakistan.
Officials say there's no immediate estimate on fatalities.
The epicenter was 49 miles northwest of Kathmandu and about seven miles deep. The Kathmandu Valley is home to nearly 2.5 million people, many of whom live in poor-quality buildings.
Nepal's worst quake was in 1934. It measured 8.0 and all but destroyed Kathmandu and two other cities.
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316-a-11-(Randy Baldwin, geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, in AP interview)-"the Nepal region"-U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Randy Baldwin says a very strong earthquake has struck near Kathmandu. (24 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *316 (04/24/15)££ 00:11 "the Nepal region"
317-a-14-(Randy Baldwin, geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, in AP interview)-"potentially damaging earthquake"-U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Randy Baldwin says a 7.9 magnitude earthquake has hit Nepal, India and Pakistan. (24 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *317 (04/24/15)££ 00:14 "potentially damaging earthquake"
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