A Northland couple caught off guard by a powerful earthquake in Nepal while travelling in a bus managed to make their way back to their hostel in the midst of falling homes and rocks.
Kevin and Anne Gray of Paihia left for the Nepalese capital Kathmandu two weeks ago to volunteer at an orphanage and a childcare centre but expect they may have to return to New Zealand after the natural disaster that has killed 1800 people.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday swept across Nepal's Mt Everest region, killing at least 18 climbers and guides, and slamming into a section of the mountaineering base camp.
Officials warn the death toll will rise as more reports come in. More than 4700 people were injured.
Strong aftershocks continued to jolt the region and most areas are without power and water.
The Northern Advocate managed to briefly speak to Ms Gray, who said she was among a group coming back to their hostel in Kathmandu from the Chitwan National Park, about 146km west of the capital city, when the earthquake struck.
"We stopped for a toilet break and that's when the quake shook the bus. We initially stayed inside then got out and we could see the homes and rocks falling down," she said.
"We managed to get a taxi and our trip back to the hostel took us six hours when it usually is an hour-long ride."
The couple left their hostel for another place just down the road where they are currently staying.
Ms Gray said there were a lot of aftershocks but the Kiwi volunteers were safely billeted for now.
She reckoned a lot of volunteers would fly back home as their accommodation had been damaged.
Another Northlander, Sharnon Dolma, and a friend were at a cafe and ran out the back to an open space when the earthquake struck. She is a member of the Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Whangarei and is studying the Tibetan language in India.