Nepal experienced another significant earthquake at approximately 12:50 pm local time on May 12, following a 7.8 earthquake on April 25 and a large 6.7 aftershock on April 26. Initial reports from the U.S. Geological Survey indicate a magnitude 7.3 earthquake centered in the Dolakha District of Nepal, near the border with Tibet, about half way between the Langtang and Everest (Sagarmatha) regions. Following the initial earthquakes and subsequent rains, steep, mountainous areas had been destabilized and significant landslides had occurred. Additional landslides and avalanches may have been triggered by the May 12 earthquake, and more landslides and avalanches may be possible in such areas. Many buildings in Nepal had already experienced significant damage from the initial earthquakes, and may have suffered additional damage. Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport has been evacuated. At this time, it is uncertain when flight operations will resume. Travelers are encouraged to check with their airline to confirm flight status. Visa operations and routine American Citizen Services have been suspended for the remainder of the day. The Embassy will provide additional updates when possible.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Nepal enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Nepal at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_980.html. For additional information, refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" on the State Department's website.

Contact the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/travelgov and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/travelgov.

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located in the Maharajgunj neighborhood of Kathmandu and is open Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm, tel. 011 977-1-423-4500 (if dialing from the U.S.) and 423-4500 within Nepal. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the after-hours emergency number is 011 977-1-400-7266 or 400-7269