A group Canadian trekkers preparing to hike to the Mt. Everest base camp were caught in the streets of Kathmandu today during the violent earthquake and were eyewitnesses to the destruction and the panic that ensued.
One of the participants, Harry Binks, said that all 22 Canadians were safe. They were in Nepal for the Everest base camp trek as fundraisers for various charities but are wondering if they will have to delay their trip. The group, which includes people from Ottawa, Huntsville and Brockville, Ontario, are part of the Dream Mountains Foundation and have raised $160,000 for charity.
Binks said in a phone interview he was in the street with several other trekkers when the quake struck. He said that he has experienced minor quakes before but this one lasted for a while and was “surreal.”
“The entire street seemed to undulate under our feet.”
“It was scary, no bones about it…there were three of us on a cobblestone street and the entire street seemed to undulate under our feet. We held onto each other. Our big concern was the people who started to run behind us. That’s one of the worst things, being trampled by other people.”
Binks said that one of the Canadian trekkers was grazed by a brick but none suffered any injuries. He said that he and his companions were able to reach an open area of the city and from there they could survey the damage.
“Only then we realized just the extent of it. A lot of downed power lines, poles that had fallen on cars – a lot of fallen down rubble from collapsing buildings and walls.”
“The mood on the street “was obviously one of sheer panic – no doubt about it.”
He said the mood on the street “was obviously one of sheer panic – no doubt about it.”
Binks said that initially the group was not allowed into their hotel rooms but were later allowed in when it was clear that the hotel was not damaged. He said the hotel his group was staying at, the Yak and Yeti Hotel, was modern and had not been damaged at all although several people said they would be sleeping in the hotel’s garden or in the lobby instead of their rooms.
Binks said as far as he knows the group’s trip to Lukla where they would begin their trek to Everest would still proceed but he was unsure whether the airport would be open or their flight to Lukla would still be scheduled.
With files from Kam Razavi
WATCH BELOW: Footage of bulldozers move rubble, search for survivors after Nepal earthquake
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