The Gorkha Earthquake, Nepal - April 2015 KEY

A case study of an earthquake in a POORER PART of the World - The Gorkha Earthquake, Nepal - April 2015 KEY DETAILS

Cause and Diagram….

Include a description of the key details of the event... Date: Time: Size on Richter Scale: Focus: Epicentre: Aftershocks: Secondary hazards – landslides, avalanches and flooding.

The result of two continental plates - Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate - crashing into each other. They meet beneath the Himalayas at a collision (converging) boundary. The India plate is moving north at around 45mm a year and pushing under the Eurasian plate.

PRIMARY EFFECTS 22 Climbers on Everest Killed by avalanches and ice falls 9 000 dead (other countries saw much smaller losses e.g. Bangladesh 4 and India 67) More women than men killed as they were more likely to be at home.

SECONDARY EFFECTS Trekking routes and World Heritage Sties closed, tourism industry stopped. (estimated $600m losses over the next two years)

23 000 injured Villages cut off such as Yanglakot as roads collapsed or blocked by landslides 14 HEP Stations damaged and other infrastructure destroyed e.g. roads, electricity cables. 7000 schools destroyed, the oldest temple in Nepal collapsed, poor quality housing collapsed. Building quality was very poor. Loss of livestock and crops in the Kathmandu Valley. Stored grains ready for planting destroyed. IMMEDIATE RESPONSES Survivors cleared rubble and bodies with their own hands

Poverty increased because 30% of the nation’s small industries, operated by local families, were destroyed. 23% shortage in energy supply Increased demand for labourers to demolish and clear debris and further demand expected for rebuilding so wages will rise.

People too scared to return home. Open air shelters set up in Kathmandu

LONG TERM RESPONSES Rebuilding – BBB = Build Back Better approach, estimated $10m needs to be spent Particular focus on safety of schools and hospitals. Recovery of historic buildings using specialist knowledge.

Over 250000ex-servicement recalled by the government to help in response. International airport closed Tourists stop visiting (90% fall in tourist bookings)

Improve the preparedness of the population of Nepal – government education schemes. Government to promote seismic research including an increase in field data and satellite imagery.

International appeal for Aid – charities respond with food, water, medicines. Search and rescue teams deployed supported by 60 countries.