Kathmandu, April 25 (IANS): Nature unleashed her fury on the small Himalayan country of Nepal on Saturday as a massive earthquake, with its epicentre in Lamjung district, is believed to have killed over 700 people.

Death and devastation befell the picturesque valleys and mountains of the country as the earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, and with a depth of 10 km beneath the ground made buildings collapse, roads crack, and internet and phone lines snap, and triggered an avalanche in the Himalayas.

The district of Lamjung - the epicentre of the quake -- is located 75 km northwest of Nepal's capital Kathmandu. The district has a population of a little over 1.8 lakh, according to 2001 figures.

Besisahar, the headquarters of the Lamjung district was one of the worst affected areas, along with the cities of Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Pokhara and Kirtipur.

The district covers an area of approximately 1,700 sq km and is made up of mainly agricultural villages.