Quake moves Everest

Everest, the world’s highest peak, moved three centimeters to the south-west because of the Nepal’s twin earthequake that devastated the Himalayan country in April, The Straits Times, quoting Chinese state media reported on Tuesday. The 7.8-magnitude quake reversed the gradual north-easterly course of the mountain, according to a report in the state-run China Daily, citing the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation. Before the quake, Everest had moved 40 centimeters to the northeast over the past decade at a speed of four centimeters a year, the report said. The mountain also rose three centimeters over the same time period. The terrific tremor caused an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing several dozen people and leaving its climbing base camp in ruins. It prompted authorities in both China and Nepal to cancel all climbs for this year, according to a news agency.