'If You Know How to Pray, Please Do So for My Sister':
Family of Australian Orphanage Worker Missing After Huge Earthquake Rocks Nepal, Killing at Least 1100, Appeals for News of Loved One
Australian girl missing after huge earthquake rocked the country
Ballantyne Forder was working in orphanages across Nepal when quake hit
Family of the 20-year-old have launched a desperate search for information
Australian teen climbing Mount Everest, Alyssa Azar, believed to be safe
Julie Bishop expected to comment once detailed information is available
The powerful quake has caused massive damage in the capital Kathmandu
Officials said more than 1100 were killed and warned the death toll likely to rise
Daily Mail Australia, 25 April 2015
An Australian girl is missing in Nepal after a devastating earthquake rocked the country, killing more than 1100 people. Ballantyne Forder, 20, was working in a number of orphanages around the country near where the 7.9 magnitude quake hit.Her family launched a desperate search to find her, posting information across social media in the hopes someone can provide them with information.
Scroll down for video
Australian girl Ballantye Forder is missing in Nepal after a devastating earthquake rocked the country, killing more than 1100 people
Ms Forder's sister, Amanda-Sue Markham, shared a number of pictures on Twitter and made a plea for help. 'My sister at centre of earthquake was working in a baby's orphanage,' she said.
'Last heard of nine hours ago. If you know how to pray, please do so for the safety of my sister.'
Another sister, Priscilla-Anne Forder said the family was desperate for news.
Ballantyne Forder, 20, was working in a number of orphanages around the country near where the 7.8 magnitude quake hit
Her family launched a desperate search to find her, posting information across social media in the hopes someone can provide them with information'
She's been in Kathmandu and Pokhara but we don't know where exactly she is right now,' Ms Forder said. 'The family is sitting around the computer trying to get in touch and just looking for information. 'She's been over there working at baby orphanages for seven weeks. She gave everything up to over there and help the kids.'
Ms Forder's sister said she has 'been over there working at baby orphanages for seven weeks. She gave everything up to over there and help the kids'
Ms Forder was due to return home to Australia at the end of MayMs Forder was due home in Australia at the end of May.
There were also fears for a teenage adventurer trying to become the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, how she is reportedly safe. A message posted to Alyssa Azar's Facebook page said the 18-year-old was on the mountain at the time, but had returned to base camp.
Australian explorer Alyssa Azar was climbing Mount Everest when the earthquake struck, but she is reportedly safe
Ms Azar, 18, who has been climbing since she was five, reportedly returned to her base camp after the quake
Ms Azar attempted to climb Mount Everest (pictured) but an avalanche killed 16 Sherpa guides
'Alyssa has contacted us and let us know that she was out climbing when this happened but is back at Base Camp now safe and sound,' a post on her Facebook page reads'
Alyssa has contacted us and let us know that she was out climbing when this happened but is back at Base Camp now safe and sound,' the post reads. 'She is feeling good and waiting to see what results come from this.' It is believed Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will make a statement on other Australians potentially caught in the disaster once more detailed information is available.Several hundred Australians registered with DFAT as travelling in Nepal.
People work to rescue trapped people inside a temple in Bashantapur Durbar Square after the major earthquake hit Kathmandu, Nepal
Emergency rescue workers carry a victim on a stretcher after Dharara tower collapsed
A group of men carry a person on a stretcher after the powerful earthquakeEffects of the quake were felt hundreds of miles away in neighbouring countries with 20 killed in India, six in Tibet and two in Bangladesh.
Two Chinese citizens died at the Nepal-China border.The earthquake is also said to have triggered a massive avalanche on Mount Everest killing eight and injuring at least 30. Several groups of climbers were also said to be trapped at Base Camp which was severely damaged. Officials confirmed that 758 people have died, with 181 people killed in the capital, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors who are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Home Ministry official Laxmi Dhakal warned the death toll is almost certain to rise.
People desperately search for survivors stuck under the rubble of a destroyed building
A man is pulled from the rubble of a building destroyed in the huge earthquake that rocked Nepal
Rescuers search for survivors trapped under rubble of the landmark Bhimsem Tower, also known as Dharahara
The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu, with walls crumbling and families racing outside of their homes. The 7.8 magnitude tremor was the worst to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years.Television footage showed a huge swathe of houses had collapsed in while roads had been split in two by the force of the impact.
A terrified Kathmandu resident said: 'Everything started shaking. Everything fell down. The walls around the main road have collapsed. The national stadiums gates have collapsed,' Kathmandu resident Anupa Shrestha said.
Government emergency workers are reportedly already on the scene in the most damaged areas while Save the Children teams on the ground are coordinating an emergency response.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu, with walls crumbling and families racing outside of their homes
7.9 Magnitude Earthquake in Nepal that Caused Everest Avalanche