The death toll continues to climb from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Indian state of Sikkim on Sunday, rocking neighboring Nepal, including Kathmandu. Fortunately, Mennonite Mission Network workers in the area are safe.

Dale Nafziger (Vincent Mennonite Church in Spring City, Pa.), serving in Nepal with his wife, Bethsaba, e-mailed that they are unharmed, though they felt the quake, which also destroyed several buildings.

“… We had a fair ‘jolt’ here about 6:30 p.m. last evening,” wrote Nafziger, who lives in Kathmandu with Bethsaba and their two children. The epicenter was about 200 miles to the east of them.

“We were visiting some friends and their house shook for about one minute,” he wrote “Since we were closer to the room than to the ground, we went to the roof to ‘ride it down’ if necessary.  There was no need.  Needless to say, there was a fair amount of alarm in general … but we sensed God’s presence.  ‘Peace, be still.’” 

According to published reports, by midday Wednesday, the death toll had eclipsed 90, including at least 10 deaths in Nepal. The quake was caused by movements in the tectonic plates that millions of years ago created the Himalayan Mountains, the world’s tallest peaks.

The area is vulnerable to earthquakes. In 1934, an 8.1-magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 4,000 and collapsed about one- fourth of all buildings.

Nafziger expressed concern that in Nepal structures continue to be built in a manner that would not withstand major earthquakes.

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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.