Sports
Stars commiserate with Nepal quake victims
International athletes have stood with the country, expressing solidarity with Nepalis and have paid homage to the 5,000 who lost their lives.While Barcelona and Getafe observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed in the disaster ahead of their Spanish La Liga match on Tuesday, international sporting figures, from Indian legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, have mourned the deaths, especially on social media.
“Unprecedented damage caused by massive earthquake. People braving the situation, authorities trying to help. Praying for departed souls,” Tendulkar tweeted a day after the earthquake, which has also hit several parts of India and Tibet.
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal also extended his support to those affected by the 7.9 magnitude earthquake, the deadliest in Nepal in 81 years. “All my support to the families of the victims of the terrible earthquake in #Nepal & #India,” a tweet from Nadal read.
The Fifa Ballon d’Or award winner Ronaldo, who has not only been hailed for his on-field skills but also as a philanthropist, appealed through his Facebook account to help Nepali children: “Help the children affected by #NepalQuake by supporting Save the Children’s relief efforts.”
England and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney also encouraged donations for the children and families in Nepal. “A devastating 7.9 #earthquake has occurred in #Nepal. Unicef are on the ground keeping children & families safe—please help and donate £5 by texting NEPAL to 70123. Thank you,” a post on Rooney’s Facebook account read.
The Great Quake, followed by several strong aftershocks, has left Nepal shattered, causing destruction in several places including the Capital, Kathmandu. According to the latest report, more than 6.6 million people have been affected by the earthquake, with more than eight thousand reported to be injured and scores still missing.