>> searching for survivors scenes of devastation in nepal after an earthquake kills hundreds and flattens a storage site. >> hello i'm richelle carey. you're watching al jazeera live from doha. also on the program the journey to a better life. ethiopians risking everything to make a new home in europe. one month after rocky forces drove isil fighters out of tikrit many are too scared to return.

ashes from the erupting volcano in chile reaches the argentine capital. and we begin in nepal where hundreds of people have been killed after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake has struck katmandu. houses have collapsed and temple temples have tumbled. the search for survivors it continues. let's take a look at the full extent of the damage. the earthquake rocks central nepal in the area of the capital of katmandu. tremors were also felt in india. the 7.9 earthquake shook bangladesh's capital of dhaka. we have reporters covering the story from katmandu and new

delhi, but first nicole johnston has the latest from this report. >> it's the most powerful earthquake in nepal in decades. people describe wave after wave of tremors. the army is sifting through the republic brick by brick looking for signs of life as well as bodies. the number of people killed is rapidly increasing. hundreds of bodies have been recovered. >> people have been trapped in the republic. people are trapped in the republicrubble rubble. >> hospitals have been set up in the streets and treatment is basic. nepal is asking for mobile teams, the worst is in old katmandu. it's full of narrow winding lanes full of republic, making

it differ formaking it difficult for people to get in. tourists were climbing the power when the earthquake struck. 16 bodies have been pulled out. >> there were reports that whole villages were destroyed. at base camp at mt. everest there have been deadly avalanches killing eight people. one guide posted this video. >> we have rockfalling. >> india has also been hit. tremors from the quake caused buildings to collapse in three states. nepal is facing a major disaster and is asking its neighbors for help. nicole johnston, al jazeera. >> that's catastrophic injure there. nepal's minister of

communications joins us now from kathmandu. it's such a difficult time. can you tell us the latest you know about casualties. >> the situation has not calmed down yet. the hospital has been crowded. putting together. i'm sure it will take a little while. it will begin with search and

rescue and then we'll concentrate on the search and rescue operation until more can be done. many have helped to support the operation. this is a calamity of tremendous proportion. tremendous magnitude. we ask people to stay calm so that immediate relief wherever it is needed can be sought. if rescue is needed. whatever is possible at this hour. >> where do things stand with establishing communications? because at a time like this, that is so necessary for coordinating rescue efforts to get to people who have survived

this. obviously communication is broken down at a time like this. where do things stand when things are up and going. >> we ask people to use text messages and to make telephone calls only when needed. the reason being the backup system can work for a limited number of hours. if there are too many calls the system becomes more difficult. and then it can create panic. we've asked people to use telephone mobiles when necessary

and use text message as much as they can. >> you mentioned this a moment ago, but talk a little bit more--you said there were tents being set up. it's our understanding is that there is supposed to be bad weather supposed to be coming into the area. has it arrived? what is the situation for people who need shelter? most of the search and rescue has been done locally. the army personnel everybody

political parties ngos, hospital staff everybody is helping in the operation as much as possible. people who are trapped in the republicin the rubble. the most important thing is to be able to provide the operations locally. as long as we can do that we will worry more about we'll worry more about the operation. >> nepal's minister of information and communication thank you so much. let's go to arbina the minister said that he wanted to get the

word out not to panic but do you feel a sense of panic among people there? >> thank you so much. let's check in with neighboring countries effected by this as well. let's check in with new delhi. they have needed the help and support of other countries and many are stepping up to try to help. first of all india was affected by it as well, but you're

reporting that they're trying to reach out and help as well. tell us more about that. >> yes absolutely. just in the last few minutes as we've been coming to air i've been watching visuals on local networks here. we're seeing pictures of aircraft from india air force aircraft with personnel dis disembarking with humanitarian aid and other necessity at this time. india mobilized three aircraft this afternoon and more are expected to join this relief and recovery effort in the coming days. the prime minister narendra modi has been in touch with the president of nepal to offer support and any other engagement that the indian government can offer at this time. we should also mention that there is a particularly interesting contact here. geographically india is one of the better places to help in terms of wide-ranging effort

here in terms of humanitarian help that is required, and also in terms of the bonds that perhaps both culture both countries hair. keeping in mind that it's pilgrimage season in nepal where hundreds of thousands of indians head to nepal to pay their respects. it will will be an interesting time for both india and nepal as this effort gains more pace as time progresses. >> joining us live from new delhi, thank you so much. coast guard has rescued refugees who face the possibility of death. we speak 20 people in a local

town about why they're so desperate to leave ethiopia. >> almost everyone here knew at least five young men killed along side by isil in libya last week. they were headed to europe through a well-traveled smuggling route. the plan was to cross the mediterranean sea to italy. in the neighborhood where three of them grew up many join their families in mourning. they were inconsolable. their pain hard to describe. >> they were looking for a better life. many of their friends here are also desperate to leave. those we talk to say that life is difficult and staying in ethiopia is not an option. these are some of the childhood friends who saw them off two months ago. they hope to follow soon. even as they grief they have not abandoned that plan. >> i know it is dangerous.

it is better than being stuck here. i know my life will be better when i go. >> they attempted the journey. he never got to his destination. they were turned back at the libyan border. they said that smugglers failed to the agreed payment. >> the smugglers are brutal. they treated us badly. they beat us. >> ethiopia has one of the worst economies in the world. still it's a poor country many are un unemployed. many believe it's a mentality to leave. >> going to dream land countries of destination with plenty of opportunities, has been a driving factor. >> back in the neighborhood the

vigil goes on. even as some of the young people here dream of plans to leave the country no matter what. catherine soi al jazeera. >> coming up news from around the world including the latest in the fighting in yemen where the saudi-led coalition is continuing it's airstrikes.

>> welcome back. to the top stories now in al jazeera. hundreds have been killed in nepal after a 7.9 magnitude

earthquake struck katmandu. the quake was felt in neighboring india where 20 are dead and dozens have been injured. two of katmandu's heritage sites were destroyed. a 19th century tower collapsed in the quake. in yemen airstrikes have targeted houthi positions in taiz. meanwhile the rebels and forces loyal to ali abdullah saleh are trying to push their way into darsad. >> in aden forces loyal to abd rabbuh mansur hadi has tried to

keep the city from falling under houthi control. for it's the first time they have handled a weapon. >> most men here have not had any kind of training, but thank god the resistence has been heroic and they're the ones who have been keep controlling aden. >> local resistence fighters were able to push back the houthies and in the capital army unit and local resistence fighters attack houthi positions. >> we call on them to join and them. >> fighters loyal to president hadi have been on the offensive

for the last few days. they've been pushing forward areas largely controlled by houthies and loyalists to depose deposed president ali abdullah saleh. >> in many governments spokesperson says yemen is ready to negotiate but only in the houthies commit to peace. >> there is no doubt that the government believes that a diplomatic route is the only way out. we're waiting to get in the negotiation talks with any party provided that the other party is genuine and serious and admitting to the outcome of the dialogue. if the houthies declared to come to the resolution handed down by the security council paving the way for diplomatic solution and a new round of talk in case the

houthis permit to all the continues laid down by the security council and are prepared to sit with them at the negotiating table he was supposed to ask the houthi toss lay down arm. he himself should lay down arms. he is a big ally for thousies. he's implicated in the south. what he has been doing is nothing but political maneuver in an attempt to clear his image before the international community. he is wanted by the criminal courts now. >> the syrian army said that it's redeploying forces to take back a strategic city in the country's northwest from rebel control. the fighters captured large parts of the area after four

days of fighting. the rebel group is also targeting towns nearby. at least four people are dead after three car bombs exposed in iraq. the blast took place at the crossing in the western part of the country. the victims were all members of iraq's security forces. it has been a month since iraq's government forces drove isil fighters out of tikrit. many residents are still scared to return fearing sectarian attacks. >> tikrit remains a ghost city. many parts of it destroyed. there was fierce fighting between government and forces, and there are also signs of looting and arson attacks carried out by the militias. the government admits some members of the mobilization forces committed these acts. it says that it will hold them

accountable. security forces hearsay all have left the city and they're calling on the people to return home. >> i'm from tikrit, and i tell the people and families to return. we're your brothers. the conditions are good and your neighbors are returning. >> al jazeera's request to accompany the mobilization forces on the trip to tikrit has been pending for almost two weeks. we were able to film inside the city center. no families were found signs written by isil fighters have been crossed out. signs may reflect the sectarian nature. some residents we spoke to say the burning of property is still ongoing. many are outside of the city. they fear appraisal attacks when they return. isil fighters are also present

and in the surrounding areas. the battle for tikrit could be over but winning the trust of its residents is not easy. >> the people can't return now because there is a will be of basic services. water pipes are broken. there is a surge of electricity. there is a battle in tikrit now destroyed. security is good. but it's an issue of restoration of the services. >> on the majority skirts of outskirts of tikrit this family feels liberated. >> there are growing fears that what happened in tikrit could be replicated in mosul and anbar province. isil remains strong there.

butal jazeera baghdad. >> the country opposition says that the decision violates the terms of the constitution. the 5 agreement with ended the country's civil war said that the president can serve only two terms. the president said no one will stand in the way of the ruling party's decision. polls have hoped they have declared the favorite for another term. his family has ruled the country for 48 hours since his father seized power in is the 67. he ruled unchallenged for more than 20 years. and he faced a multi party challenge in 1993 and won. and he was reelected in 1998 and 2003.

following his death his 39-year-old son succeeded him. we report from toga's capital. >> this is the polling station where the main opposition cast his vote earlier. the whole place went wild when they saw the opposition leaders. now, togo's election is signature because significant because the incumbent is running for a third term in office. and in this west african region there are only two countries where there are no presidential term limits. that's here in gambia. that's why there is a lot of attention and focus on this election. and late last year president the

president was forced out of office when he tried to change the constitution is he could run for a third term. that's a popular protest that pushed him out. now we have a situation in where the world is watching and from a local perspective. this is where they'll have an opportunity to care their results from the official results. if there are any discrepancies this is something that is going to be highlighted quite quickly. it will be up to the electoral commission to deal with it. >> indonesia has been given the 72 hour notice of the execution of ten foreign nationals convicted for drug trafficking. among them are two australians who will be executed by firing squad. australia's foreign minister has been pleading for a pardon. civil rights activists have been shot dead after hosting a

talk on forced disappearances. they have been fighting separatists in the southwestern province since 2005. u.s. tourists have been rescued from a boat swept on to rocks in the galapagos islands. 16 passengers and eight crew were taken to safety by ecuadorian coast guards. the chilean volcano which erupted on wednesday is still passing out gas and smoke. the gas has arrived to neighboring absent's capital. lucia newman has been seeing how they're affect: >> reminding chile that 43 years of lying dormant is just a cat

nap in the life of an active volcano. more than 10 million-year-old volcano erupted suddenly late wednesday. now many of the 4,000 residents who are forced to evacuate were briefly allowed to return to the so-called red zone to check on their homes and clear roads and roofs as best they could. >> i came to remove the ash from the roof so it won't collapse. we are nervous and don't know when we'll be able to. >> it could erupt again. actually it is still in an eruption but it could mean largeer lava flows that could put people's lives at risk.

>> in neighboring argentina air traffic has been severely disrupted. here they distribute fad and water to those who are trying to salvage their belongings or simply to find their pets. these cows are sitting in what 48 hours ago were lush clean pastures. now with other livestock they're being evacuated. >> there are at least 600 animals that we need to take elsewhere because there is too much ash and they will starve if they remain here. >> most of this volcanic ash looks and feels like a collection of little stones as you can see. the worst part isn't trying to clear this all away which could take as long as a year. it's the uncertainty whether the volcano will go back to sleep or whether it will erupt again at any time. that's something experts tell us that only the volcano knows for

sure. lucia newman, chile. >> the top story of the day, of course, is the devastating earthquake in nepal. more than 800 people dead so far. much more on that and the rest of the top stories on our website. www.aljazeera.com. hi, i am lisa flesher and you are in the stream. nonprofit hospitals are supposed to take care of people regardless of their ability to pay. why then are some suing patients for millions. and the is i.r.s. doing enough to stop it? could this be the beginning of the end for the cable television industry, a new internet t.v. services are capturing consumers. and a new battlefield in the