Nepal earthquake: Michigan natives among missing

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Local 4 has learned that there is a handful of Michigan natives who are among the reported missing after a massive earthquake in Nepal.

Christine Bedenis, 27, of Plymouth, was one of those reported missing -- but she tweeted Monday morning that she was OK.

She joined the Peace Corps two years ago, and after teaching English in Thailand, she moved on to Nepal.

Bedenis wasn't near the epicenter of the earthquake, but felt it.

"I was eating lunch in a village called Yak Karkha when it hit. Felt shaking for about a minute and saw landslides," Bedenis told Local 4 via messaging.

Owen Cousino, 19, of Ypsilanti, took a year off school to travel and his family feared he may have been caught in the aftermath. But his family got a text from him saying he was OK.

As of Monday, the death toll from the earthquake had reached more than 3,300.

At least 3 Americans died in an avalanche in the Himalayas that was triggered by the earthquake.

The country is now recovering after multiple aftershocks occurred on Sunday, some measuring up to 6.7 in magnitude.

The U.S. is providing $1 million dollars in assistance and sending disaster response teams to Nepal.

This is Nepal's worst natural disaster in more than 80 years.

You can search the database of the missing here.