'Someone was watching over us,' say Israeli seniors caught up in Nepal earthquake
A group of 15 senior citizens, aged 60 to 70, were on organized tour of Nepal's temples and spectacular landscapes and say it is a miracle that they all survived.
KATHMANDU - Following the devastating earthquake in Nepal, a large number of Israelis – mostly young backpackers on post-army trips to the Far East – assembled at the Israeli Embassy and Chabad House in Kathmandu in search of assistance and refuge.
Among them, too, was a group of 15 senior citizens, aged 60 to 70, who were on an organized tour of the temples and spectacular landscapes of the country when they suddenly found themselves having to cope with a natural disaster that has left untold death and destruction in its wake.
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"We were on a tour of the Kumari Palace when the earthquake suddenly struck," Koka Zemel recounted from the group's current encampment, the so-called "assisted living" section, in the embassy compound in the Nepalese capital.
"Miraculously, we survived the earthquake all huddled up together in a very small courtyard, and we didn't think we'd get out of there alive. Someone must have been watching over us," she said.
"We were reborn," remarked Shlomo Kotzer, another member of the group. "Our lives were truly gifted to us. We thought at first that we'd continue with the tour; but when we found out that the city of Pokhara is also in ruins, we decided to do all we can to fly back to Israel."
According to Israel's ambassador in Kathmandu, Yaron Meir, embassy officials have yet to make contact with approximately 150 of the estimated 400 Israelis known to be in Nepal.
"We believe they are fine, but we are unable to get a sign of life from them because the communication lines are down," Meir said.
"We know that a number of Israelis have been injured on two different treks, in Langtang and at the Everest base camp, but we don't have any further details about them."
