On Friday night, a strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing at least 132 people. There was a 10 km depth to the epicentre of the earthquake in Nepal. Nepal has experienced three strong earthquakes in a month.
More than half a million homes were destroyed by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015.
There were at least six fatalities from the earthquake on November 9 (Wednesday) in Nepal, and tremors were felt in Delhi as well. Four of the dead were children. Several houses were destroyed in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Nepal’s seismological center measured it at magnitude 6.6.
Why Nepal is always the earthquake prone
lets take a geology look to understand why Nepal is always earthquake prone area.
As continents move and collide with one another, large tectonic plates make up the crust of the Earth.
In Nepal, two massive tectonic plates – the Indo-Australian plate and the Asian plate – collide, causing the Himalayan mountains and earthquakes.
Approximately 5cm of these are pushed up against and underneath each other every year. Although it may not seem like much, when the forces pile up, an earthquake occurs.
Nepal’s situation is complicated due to its buildings construction is week, which cannot withstand strong earthquakes.
The growing population is simply the final ingredient in the recipe for disaster.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nepal is the 11th most vulnerable country to earthquakes, and Katmandu is one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world.
This is not the first time Nepal has experienced such a devastating earthquake. The 2015 earthquake left almost 8,000 people dead in Nepal. The earthquake spoiled many historic monuments old temples and towns. An estimated billion was lost to Nepal’s economy as a result of the quake.
Some deadliest earthquakes in Nepal
Earthquake in Nepal-Bihar (January 15, 1934): One of the worst earthquakes in history.
A magnitude of 8.0 was recorded
10,700-12,000 people died
Nepal-India Border Earthquake (July 29, 1980): Occurred northwest of Khaptad National Park in the evening.
A magnitude of 6.0 has been recorded
200 people died and 5,600 were injured
A large part of northern Bihar was affected by the Kathmandu earthquake (August 21, 1988).
6.9 magnitude
709 people died and 1,000s were injured
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