What were the effects of the 2015 Nepal earthquake?

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, toppling multi-story buildings in Kathmandu, the capital, and creating landslides and avalanches in the Himalaya Mountains. Nearly 9,000 people died and more than 22,000 suffered injuries.

Why did the 2015 Nepal earthquake affect such a vast area?

Contributing to the devastation was the fact that Kathmandu lies in a basin filled with about 2000 feet of sediments from a former lake. During the shaking of an earthquake, such sedimentary basins tend to amplify the ground motion and thereby increase the destruction.

How did the Nepal earthquake affect the landscape?

The Nepal earthquake had many direct impacts on the environment. These included: loss of forest and farm land due to landslides and avalanches; changes to water sources; increased sediment in rivers and risk of downstream flooding; impacts on protected area and community forest management; and death of wild animals.

How big was the earthquake in Nepal in 2015?

The Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake of magnitude 7.8, occurred at 11:56 NST on 25 April 2015 with an epicentre 77 km northwest of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, that is home to nearly 1.5 million inhabitants, and at a focal depth of approximately 10-15km.

When did the M7.8 earthquake happen in Nepal?

On Saturday, April 25 at 11:56 am local time, an M7.8 earthquake began 82 km (51 mi) NW of Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. The event was followed by many aftershocks, the largest being an M7.3 on May 12, 17 days after the mainshock.

What are the lessons of the Nepal earthquake?

This lessons paper aims to assist operational agencies responding to the 25 April 2015 Nepal earthquake. It provides 17 lessons drawn from experience of previous comparable disasters, based on evaluations, research papers and interviews with operational humanitarian practitioners.

What was the death toll in the 1934 Nepal earthquake?

That magnitude-6.9 event resulted in the deaths of 1,500 people. A magnitude-8.0 earthquake in 1934, however, killed approximately 10,600 people. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Subscribe today