3 With Michigan Ties Alive After Nepal Earthquake, More Still Missing

This image shows Durbar Square in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, after Saturday’s deadly earthquake and avalanche. (Photo via Flickr/Mapbox)

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Several Michigan residents or natives are missing after the Nepal earthquake Saturday that officials say has now reached 4,000. Another 6,500 people are missing in Nepal’s worst natural disaster in more than 80 years.

The magnitude-7.8 earthquake toppled buildings in Katmandu, triggering an avalanche.

WDIV-TV is reporting that Christine Bedenis, tweeted Monday morning that she is OK. She had been hiking in Nepal after a recent stint with the Peace Corps.

Katherine Dedenis of Plymouth, told WWJ/CBS Detroit that her sister, 27, escaped injury.

“She said that she felt some tremors – she was by a river and saw some landslides on the other side of the river,” said Katherine. “But she … was not harmed.”

Good news also came from Owen Cousino, 19, who was born in Ann Arbor. A post on the Christ the King Life Teen Facebook page said he contacted his family Sunday.

Eric Camran Chaudhary, 28, who was born in Midland, was also listed as alive on a Red Cross list.

As-yet unaccounted for are:

• Phillip Eskander, 26, born in Chicago and residing in Portage
• Eric Walter Schuyler, 34, born in Michigan
• Dr. David Walter Stryker, 65, born in Michigan and living in Albuquerque, NM
• David Huizenga, 49, born in Grand Rapids

The devastating earthquake and avalanche occurred at the beginning of the climbing season on the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. Among the casualties was Google executive Dan Fredinburg.

The avalanche occurred almost a year to the date after the deadliest avalanche on record on Everest. Sixteen Sherpa guides were killed on April 18, 2014.

How to Help in Michigan

Dr. Richard Keidan, founder of the West Bloomfield-based Detroit2Nepal Foundation relief organization, told the Detroit Free Press that disaster-relief donations will go to remote communities that aren’t likely to get much in foreign assistance.

“The destruction is just devastating,” said Keidan, whose organization was established in 2010 to improve public health, health care and educational opportunities for children in remote villages of Nepal as well as metro Detroit.

The group’s projects have been damaged or destroyed, he said.

To donate, go to www.detroit2nepal.org. Here are some other relief efforts going on in Michigan. If you know of more, please add them to the comments.

The organization says half of the funds raised from its Over the Edge fundraising event from Sunday on will go to disaster relief efforts in Nepal. Bedrock Real Estate Services and Quicken Loans are co-sponsoring the event, which gives people raising $1,000 or more a chance to rappel 25 stories down the First National Building, 660 Woodward Ave., in downtown Detroit on Friday, May 8.

CARE, a humanitarian organization providing emergency aid and fighting global poverty, is accepting donations for emergency food, water and shelter. You can also give to the American Red Cross Nepal earthquake relief effort.

Other Stories About This On Patch:

• AmeriCares Sends Personnel, Supplies to Nepal Following Devastating Earthquake
• Google Exec, Adventurer Tragically Killed In Mt. Everest Avalanche
• Santa Monica Filmmaker Killed by Nepal Quake’s Mount Everest Avalanche
• New Jersey Resident Among Those Missing in Nepal
• Lansdale Woman Working To Raise Funds For Native Nepal