Nepal earthquake 2015 - developing country

Question 1

CAUSES

Answer 1

• Magnitude: 7.8 MMS (Moment Magnitude Scale)
• At convergent plate boundary (subduction) between Eurasian + Indian plates.
• Only 8km deep + epicentre North West from capital Kathmundu.

Question 2

IMPACTS

Answer 2

• 9000 deaths, 22,000 injuried
• More than half a million houses collapsed/damaged
• harvests reduced/lost
• Ecomonic cost of disaster: $10 billion
• Boundary was a multiple hazard zone - due to mountaineous landscape - at risk of landslides, avalanches as well as earthquakes.
• Caused avalanche on Mount Everest + Langtang valley (20 + 250 killed)
• Due to high pop density in Kathmandu = worsen impacts.

Question 3

PRE - DISASTER

Answer 3

• Due to low development = Nepal severely struck
• Due to local earthquake science being outdated - current seismic hazard map = 20 years old.
• houses built without building regulations - many people build own homes - due to many people in poverty.

Question 4

POST - DISASTER

Answer 4

• International aid provided by India + China - $1 billion
• temporary houses made
• UK sent aid + search and rescue + $73 million
• people now educated on earthquake drills