Nepal earthquake: Death toll passes 7,000

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on 25 April and kept the population on edge with some 70 aftershocks, has so far claimed a death toll of 7,040, according to government figures.

According to UN estimates over a quarter of Nepal's 28 million population has been affected by the deadly earthquake, with aftershocks continuing to add to the damage.

The UN warned on 2 May against a possible spread of disease and stressed the need to reach remote villages where people still remain stranded without basic needs.

"We definitely need more helicopters. This is one of the poorest places on Earth," Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the UN's World Food Program, told The Associated Press.

"If the global community walks away, the people of this country will not receive the assistance that is required for them to rebuild their lives."

Minor aftershocks were registered on 3 May in the village of Pauwathok, located some 50 kilometers east of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

Pauwathok has reportedly recorded the most deaths following the earthquake with a total count at 2,560.

Nepal shuts down international airport to big jets

Nepal closed down its international airport to big jets on 3 May citing runway deterioration caused by big planes as the cause of the shutdown.

According to Birendra Shrestha, the manager of Tribhuwan International Airport, the airport runway was constructed to only handle small to medium-size planes.

Military and cargo planes coming in with relief workers, journalists and aid supplies has resulted in cracks on the runway, said Shrestha, reported AP News.