Nepal Earthquake - case study
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