Decatur Resident Missing After Nepal Earthquake

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Photo Credit: Emanuel Family/Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Decatur family is hoping for good news from half a world away after a powerful earthquake rocked the central Asian country of Nepal on Sunday.

Marty Emanuel, 71, was in Nepal on a trek with a Nepali guide when the magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Emanuel has not yet surfaced, but his family believes the country’s now-totaled communications infrastructure has kept him from making contact.

Emanuel and his guide were last known to be in a national park north of Kathmandu; the earthquake’s epicenter was reported as 50 miles northwest of that city. So far, over 3,700 people have been confirmed dead.

The Emanuels have reported Marty’s absence to the State Department, but must now wait until news comes in.