Nepal earthquake

• Saturday 25 April 2015
• Magnitude of 7.8
• Struck Nepal just before midday
• Epicentre located in remote district of Gorka
• Shock waves travelled along Kathmandu (capital) to India, China and Bangladesh
• Followed by 300 aftershocks (several over a magnitude of 6.5)
• The earthquake also caused avalanches and landslides

Nepal GDP = 109 / 193 (ranking)

Nepal HDI = 145 / 187 (ranking)

Nepal is used to earthquake activity.

- A 1000 km fault line runs along the southern border (there is a convergent plate boundary) < Indian and Eurasian plate - creates the Himilayas.

- Earthquakes of a magnitude of more than 8 happen there. (intervals of 75-80 years)

The two plates are colliding ata a rate of 45mm per year

- In 2015 the Indian plate jumped forward about 2m

- The magnitude was high because the origin of the earthquake was close to the surface of the ground (shock waves have a shorter distance to travel).

• 8 million peopel affected
• 9000 deaths (mostly in Nepal)
• 23000 injured (mostly in Nepal)
• 3 million left homeless
• Supplies and connections affected
• 7000 schools destroyed
• 50%of shops destroyed (affected access to resources and livelihood)

• Widespread damage was in the capital ( densely populated - 1 mill.) and the Kathmandu valley
  • It's an important settlement (more than 2000 years)
  • Ancient monuments and temples were severely damaged ( collapsing - killed people)
  • Various types of buildings fell (houses, business and public facilities, etc.)
  • smaller building - poorer people - suffered most damage
  • Over 1/2 million homes destroyed
  • Major deaths and casualties in other countries

• The sahking of the ground triggered avalanches and landslides
  • Avalanches on Everest killed at least 19
  • Avalanche in Langtang left 250 missing
  • Landslide blocked river which meant that people living near the river had to evacuate (in case of flooding)
• The earthquake happened on land so it did not cause a tsunami

• Search and rescue teams, water and medical support from other countries (UK, India, China)
• Helicopters rescued people stuck in avalanches + delivered supplies to remote areas
• 1/2 millions tents provided for the homeless
• Financial aid from many countries
• Field hospitals were set up to support overcrowded main hospitals
• 300000 migrated from Kathmandu to seek shelter + support from family and friends
• Social media assisted search and rescue efforts + satellites mapped damaged areas

• Roads repaired and landslides cleared
  • Lakes formed from damming river valleys need to be cleared to prevent flooding
• Thousands of homeless to be re-housed and homes repaired
• 7000 schools rebuilt or repaired
• Enforcing stricter controls on building codes
• June 2015 - Nepal hosted conference on reconstruction (technical and financial support from other countries)
• Boosting tourism - re-opening sites 
• repairs to Everest base camp and trekking routes 
• Late 2015 - a blockade at the indian border affected the supply of fuels, medicines and construction materials