Nepal Earthquake - Case Study

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.

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

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.

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.