Three Americans Dead in Avalanche Following Massive Nepal Earthquake

Three Americans were among the thousands killed when a massive earthquake on Saturday triggered an avalanche near the Nepal's Mount Everest base camp.

The three Americans killed in the avalanche include Marisa Eve Girawong, a medic from New Jersey, Tom Taplin, a filmmaker from Colorado, and Dan Fredinburg, a Google Inc. executive from California.

In total, 17 people died in Saturday's avalanche that came shortly after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake occurred near Kathmandu on Saturday, killing 2,500.

According to Reuters, friends and family of those Americans killed in the recent natural disaster have expressed their grief at the sudden loss.

Cory Freyer, wife of Taplin, told Reuters that her late husband "was such a well-loved individual," adding that he was "Always up for adventure."

In response to the devastating quake, several countries have offered to send emergency aid to Nepal so it may begin to recover.

The U.S. reportedly sent a cargo plane carrying 70 aid workers on Sunday to help with disaster relief and rescue, while the China, United Arab Emirates and the Israeli military also sent aid crews focused on search and rescue and medical care.

Roger Hodgson, Nepal's deputy country director for the Save the Children charity, told the New York Times that his group and other aid groups are gearing up for a long haul of recovery and rebuilding.

"We're just gearing up," Hodgson told the media outlet.. "People have been resilient. But it's been difficult to get people and supplies into the country, especially to rural areas far from Katmandu."