7 Americans, 2 others rescued 7 days after Nepal quake

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Saturday, May 2, 2015
people in Ghorka standing on rubble
Rescuers in Ghorka, Nepal rescued 9 people, seven of whom are Americans, May 1, 2015.
KGO-TV

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new story of survival is coming out of Nepal, seven days after the deadly earthquake.

United States officials say nine people were rescued, seven of them Americans, in Gorkha, an area about four hours from Kathmandu.

Details on the survivors and under what conditions they were rescued haven't been released.

The death toll from the 7.8 earthquake now stands at more than 6,200.

The European Union Friday announced that more than a 1,000 of its citizens, mostly tourists, remain unaccounted for. Officials say hope is dwindling to find anyone who may still be alive in the rubble.

PHOTOS: Inside the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake

Meanwhile, the founder of an organization that has been helping Nepalese youth for decades just returned to the Bay Area from the quake-devastated country.

Olga Murray is back home in Sausalito to celebrate her 90th birthday. She lives half the year in Nepal, where she started the Nepal Youth Foundation, a group that provides vocational training and nutrition programs.

Her staff is switching gears. It is using its money to help hospitals buy medical equipment.

"There are so many broken limbs and these particular machines can diagnose a broken limb very quickly," Murray said. "It's portable, we desperately need it. We said go and buy it. $30,000."

The Nepal Youth Foundation is now using its facilities to house people injured by the quake. It needs money to buy more tents and medical supplies.

Facebook users are coming to the aid of earthquake victims in Nepal in a big way. Facebook put a donate button on the site, and users responded. CEO Mark Zuckerberg says more than $10 million has been donated.

Zuckerberg says the company will donate an additional $2 million, topping the $10 million aid package pledged by the U.S. government.

Click here to find out how you can help the victims in Nepal, and click here for full coverage on the devastating quake.

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