Case Study - Gorkha Earthquake
Himalayas
April 2015
developing country
magnitude 7.9
happened 90 km north-east of Kathmandu, in the middle of the collision zone where the Indo-Australian plate meets the Eurasian plate.
the geological structure of valleys in Nepal increases the risk of earthquakes (pre-historic lakes filled many of the valleys so the sediment is soft)
the depth of soft sediment reaches 600m deep in the Kathmandu valley → seismic waves that pass through this material are amplified, causing structures to swing violently
9,000 deaths and 22,000 injured
Economic losses amounted to US$5 billion
There were many landslides down the steep mountain slopes with killer snow and ice avalanches triggered on Mt. Everest (killed 20 people)
Many rural villages were totally destroyed – over 450,000 houses were damaged
More than 2.8 million people were displaced from the Kathmandu Valley, and there was an increase in the trafficking of homeless girls into the sex trade in South Asia
An estimated 1 million people needed emergency food assistance
The Asian Development Bank provided US$200 million of aid for reconstruction
Locations high in the Himalayan Mountains could not be accessed for many days and relief aid was slow arriving
There was severe gender discrimination in the receipt of aid with thousands of women going without
Nepalese government aid was hindered by political turmoil before and after the event
More geopolitical issues arose as neighbouring countries (e.g. India and Indonesia) competed with each other for greater influence within Nepal
Himalayas
April 2015
developing country
magnitude 7.9
happened 90 km north-east of Kathmandu, in the middle of the collision zone where the Indo-Australian plate meets the Eurasian plate.
the geological structure of valleys in Nepal increases the risk of earthquakes (pre-historic lakes filled many of the valleys so the sediment is soft)
the depth of soft sediment reaches 600m deep in the Kathmandu valley → seismic waves that pass through this material are amplified, causing structures to swing violently
9,000 deaths and 22,000 injured
Economic losses amounted to US$5 billion
There were many landslides down the steep mountain slopes with killer snow and ice avalanches triggered on Mt. Everest (killed 20 people)
Many rural villages were totally destroyed – over 450,000 houses were damaged
More than 2.8 million people were displaced from the Kathmandu Valley, and there was an increase in the trafficking of homeless girls into the sex trade in South Asia
An estimated 1 million people needed emergency food assistance
The Asian Development Bank provided US$200 million of aid for reconstruction
Locations high in the Himalayan Mountains could not be accessed for many days and relief aid was slow arriving
There was severe gender discrimination in the receipt of aid with thousands of women going without
Nepalese government aid was hindered by political turmoil before and after the event
More geopolitical issues arose as neighbouring countries (e.g. India and Indonesia) competed with each other for greater influence within Nepal
