Key Facts

• It happened on the 25th April 2015

• 7.8 magnitude

• Although Nepal is used to earthquakes it is an LIDC meaning each time they struggle due to the economic and political turmoil

• Shallow focus meaning less space for the seismic waves to dissipate into the crust

Causes

• The Indo-Australian 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 North-West of the capital, 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

Primary impacts:

• 4 of 1200 buildings were left undamaged in Bartak

• $10 billion of damage was caused.

• 19 009 people were injured.

• 9000 people were killed.

Secondary impacts

• A landslide triggered by the earthquake flattened most buildings in the village of Singai, killing at least 12 people on the 15 May 2015

• An avalanche on Mount Everest killed 15 people

• Flooding and damage to roads from landslide

Responses

Short term

• Immediate response was to locate and help as many casualties and survivors

• 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.

• 300,000 people fled the capital of Kathmandu

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.

• CARE helped by providing vegetable and millet seed plus cash and technical help to farmers as almost 80% of Nepal rely of farming