Nepal earthquake Disaster-2015
(Gorkha earthquake)
2015 Earthquake Disaster
The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (also known as the Gorkha earthquake) killed 9,000 people and injured more than 19,000. It occurred on 25 April, with a magnitude of 7.8Mw. Its epicenter was the village of Barpak, Gorkha District. It was the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake.
Reasons in terms of plate tectonic movement
Nepal is prone to destructive earthquakes, not only because of the massive forces involved in the tectonic collision, but also because of the type of fault line the country sits on. Normal faults create space when the ground cracks and separates. Nepal lies on a so-called thrust fault, where one tectonic plate forces itself on top of another. The most visible result of this is the Himalayan mountain range. The fault runs along the 1,400-mile range, and the constant collision of the India and Eurasia plates pushes up the height of the peaks by about a centimeter each year.
What caused the Nepal earthquake?
Safety Measures taken during Earthquakes
During an earthquake:
- Do not panic, keep calm.
- Douse all fires.
- If the earthquake catches you indoors, stay indoors. Take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture. Stay away from glass, or loose hanging objects.
- If you are outside, move away from buildings, steep slopes and utility wires.
- If you are in a crowded place, do not rush for cover or to doorways.
- If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly as safety permits, but stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops.
- If you are in a lift, get out of the lift as quickly as possible.
- If you are in a tunnel, move out of the tunnel to the open as quickly as safety permits.
Challenges faced by the rescue team
- Aid groups and governments intensified efforts to help Nepal on Sunday after a 7.8 magnitude devastated the capital Kathmandu and surrounding areas.
- European, Asian and North American governments sent emergency response teams to Nepal as the country struggles to cope with the disaster. However, blocked roads, collapsed buildings, and continuing aftershocks pose major setbacks for emergency crews searching for survivors in the capital and cut-off rural areas.
"Communication is down in many areas. Widespread destruction, rubble and landslides are preventing access to provide aid in many villages," the Australian Red Cross said in a statement.
Done by: Divya Nair (10-A)
[Gems Our Own Indian School]