Rescued Israelis describe harrowing ordeal after Nepal quake
Wounded but safe, backpacker says some locals helped his group while others were angered when they took supplies
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Ten Israelis trapped in a distant part of the Langtang National Park who were rescued on Wednesday told of a harrowing escape from earthquakes and avalanches – and clashes with desperate locals.
Yuval Amir, one of those rescued, told Army Radio that the group survived the frightening first days after Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 earthquake thanks to the aid of Nepalese locals.
“We were in a village [when the earthquake struck], sitting together in a guesthouse. We had just eaten lunch when the earthquake began,” Amir related. “I was lightly wounded, struck in the head by a falling pole.”
The group, at least two of whose members were wounded, then had to flee a serious avalanche caused by the earthquake and aftershocks.
“We found a place to hide from the avalanche, and somehow managed not to get buried by the snow.”
Sleeping outdoors in the nights following the earthquake, the group quickly grew desperately short of food and water.
“The village nearby was completely destroyed. We decided to go to the village to try to find food, water, warm clothes. We started collecting things” from destroyed homes “when a large group of Nepalese took it personally. They were very offended that we were taking things and started following us, throwing stones. One gave a kick.”
The group quickly evaded the angered local. The Israelis understood why the Nepalese were upset, Amir explained, but they were gathering supplies from the destroyed village “to survive.”
And, he added, local Nepalese helped them survive the experience.
“Our own solidarity saved us. But I want to say that one Nepalese man stayed with us to take care of the wounded and helped us. He was a hero.”
Dozens of Israelis, perhaps as many as 50, are still stranded in far-flung mountainous regions of the quake-hit country. Foreign Ministry officials and private rescuers have expressed the hope that all the Israelis, including roughly 10 whose location is not yet known, will be rescued by the end of Wednesday.
The Times of Israel Community.