Gorkha Earthquake Nepal

Question 1

When was the earthquake?

Answer 1

28th April 2015

Question 2

What was the magnitude?

Answer 2

7.8

Question 3

Where was the epicentre?

Answer 3

Burpak, 80 kilometres northwest (NW) of the capital, Kathmandu.

Question 4

How many people died?

Answer 4

8,841 dead

Question 5

How many injured?

Answer 5

Over 16,800 injured

Question 6

How many homeless?

Answer 6

1 million made homeless

Question 7

What historic buildings where destroyed?

Answer 7

Dharahara Tower

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Question 8

Why were so many buildings destroyed in the quake?

Answer 8

There were no building regulations in Gorkha so many buildings were unstable and collapsed.

Question 9

How many hospitals were destroyed?

Answer 9

26 hospitals destroyed

Question 10

What percentage of schools where destroyed?

Answer 10

50 (half) of all schools.

Question 11

What were some Primary Effects?

Answer 11

• Deaths, Injuries, Homelessness
• Building destruction
• Reduced supplies (water, electricity, food)
• Aftershocks, and secondary earthquake

Question 12

How many aftershocks were created due to the quake?

Answer 12

352 aftershocks

Question 13

There was a second earthquake after the first:

• What was the size of this quake?
• What was the date of this quake?
• How long after the first quake was this one?

Answer 13

• 7.3 magnitude
• 12th May 2015
• 17 days later

Question 14

The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, it swept through the Base Camp that is used for international climbing expeditions.
- How many died as a result of the avalanche?

Answer 14

• 19 died, including several tourists and others local Sherpas.

Question 15

In 2014, what was the reported percentage of Nepal’s GDP that was made up from tourism?

Answer 15

8.9%

Question 16

How many jobs are provided in the tourism area in Nepal?

Answer 16

over 1 million jobs

Question 17

The earthquake happened just before the monsoon season, why is this significant?

Answer 17

This is when rice is newly planted, seeds were ruined (with rubble) and this lead to extreme food shortages and income loss for many. Rice is Nepal’s staple diet, and two-thirds of the population depend on farming.

This also increased the risk of waterborne diseases.

Question 18

What were some Secondary Effects of the quake?

Answer 18

• Avalanches on Everest
• Tourism decreased
• Rice crop disturbances

Question 19

Nepal requested international help:

The UK’s DEC raised money to provide emergency aid, how much did they raise? (Immediate Response)

Answer 19

US $126 million

Question 20

Temporary shelters where set up by the Red Cross, how many people were tents provided for?

Answer 20

225, 000

Question 21

How many were cut off due to the mountainous terrains.

Answer 21

315, 000 by road

75, 000 were unreachable by air

Question 22

What did local Sherpas do to help distribute relief?

Answer 22

They were used to hike relief supplies to remote areas that were unreachable, even by air.

Question 23

In the long term, what did the government of Nepal do to help development?

Answer 23

They carried out a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, which reported 23 areas that required rebuilding, such as housing, schooling and roads.

Question 24

Eight months after the earthquake, the OCHA reported that how much aid had been committed?

Answer 24

US $274 Million

Question 25

What has been done to try and rebuild the tourism industry in Nepal?

Answer 25

• The Durbar Square heritage sites were reopened in June 2015 to encourage tourists back to the area ready for the tourism season.
• Mount Everest was reopened for tourists in August 2015.

Question 26

Total Damage cost?

Answer 26

US $5.15 Billion

Question 27

Aid received?

Answer 27

US $274 million from EU

Question 28

What time was the earthquake?

Answer 28

12:50 am

Question 29

National GDP?

Answer 29

US $19.4 Billion

Question 30

National GNI per Capita?

Answer 30

US $730