Nepal Earthquake - Case Study

Key Facts

• It happened on the 25th April 2015

Causes

• The Indian and Eurasian plates moved suddenly in April 2015 and about a century of built up strain was released.
• The focus of the earthquake was about 15km below the surface. This shallow focus caused strong shaking at the surface and a lot of damage.
• The epicentre was 48 miles west of Kathmandu, so there was a lot of damage to this densely populated area.
• The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks which further increased damage and casualties in Nepal.
• The earthquake triggered avalanches on Mount Everest, further adding to the death toll.

Consequences

• Over 180 buildings were reduced to rubble in Kathmandu.
• $10 billion of damage was caused.
• 19 009 people were injured.
• 8 635 people were killed.
• A landslide triggered by the earthquake flattened most buildings in the village of Singai, killing at least 12 people on the 15 May 2015

Responses

Short term

• NGO’s such as Oxfam distributed food and clean water in the days following 25th April.
• Oxfam helped 400 000 people gain access to clean water the days following the earthquake.

Long term

• Oxfam helped 13 000 people who were displaced one year after the earthquake build new homes.
• The British Government pledged £33 million to the Nepal government to help rebuild Nepal in the months after the earthquake.
• Oxfam set up a ‘Cash for Work’ programme to provide fixed term employment for up to 15 000 people in the months following the earthquake.