TORONTO - The Foreign Affairs Department says it is closely monitoring the situation in Nepal, where an earthquake has killed nearly 1,200 people in the region.
Spokeswoman Diana Khaddaj says there are 388 Canadians registered as being in Nepal, but cautions that's only an estimate as registration is voluntary.
Deaths also are reported in India, Tibet and Bangladesh following the magnitude-7.8 quake that rolled through Nepal's densely populated Kathmandu Valley.
Khaddaj says the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa and Canadian offices abroad are working with local authorities to help Canadians in the region.
World Vision Canada child protection specialist Reena Vohra of Toronto was visiting the ancient city of Bhaktapur, about 20 kilometres outside of Kathmandu, when the quake hit.
Vohra, who is currently in Kathmandu, says she's still "incredibly shaken up."
"We were walking in a narrow alley when the quake hit. The ground began to shake and suddenly all of the nearby buildings were moving," she said.
Vohra said buildings were crumbling all around the group and they saw devastated ancient pagodas and temples that they had visited just an hour before.
"We are still feeling tremors and we continue to run outside each time we feel the ground shake. The airport is closed so I am unable to fly out today as planned," she said,
Khaddaj says friends and relatives in Canada of Canadian citizens in Nepal or the surrounding affected area should contact the department's emergency centre for information.
But some families are turning to social media in an effort to track down relatives in the quake-stricken area.
"Looking for Jin Hyung Park, Canadian-Korean" from Edmonton, Sora Park tweeted, "he is in Kathmandu and I am unable to reach him at this moment."
Sumesh Kunwar tweeted "Any body in contact with Sam and Cody Canadian trekking in #langtang #nepal?"
"Looking for Stephane Chouinard, 34y, male, Canadian." Ana Bortoletto tweeted. "He was in Manang Ananapurna Circuit, Nepal."
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