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LIC Nepal Earthquake 2015 - Coggle Diagram
LIC Nepal Earthquake 2015
Basic Facts
Epicentre approx. 80km north-west of Kathmandu
Focus depth approx. 15km
Gorkha district, central Nepal
Collision plate boundary
Magnitude 7.8
Major magnitude 7.3 aftershock struck on 12th May 2015
11:56am
Nepal = Low Income Country
25th April 2015
Causes
Occurred at collision plate boundary
Collision also causes the Himalayas to be pushed upwards
Indian Plate moves towards the Eurasian Plate and pushes beneath it
Immediate Responses
International search-and-rescue teams arrived from countries including India and China
Helicopters used to rescue people from remote villages and transport the injured to hospitals
Nepal requested foreign aid / international assistance within the hours of the earthquake
Emergency medical teams treated injured people and mobile hospitals were provided
Nepalese army, police, and emergency services carried out search-and-rescue operations
Temporary shelters, tents, and essential supplies were distributed to people who had lost their homes
Local people dug survivors out of collapsed buildings using their hands and basic tools
Aid organisations provided food, clean water, blankets, and medical supplies
Specific Examples:
China sent a 60 person emergency response team
India sent military personnel to assist with rescue operations
Pakistan provided a 30 bed mobile hospital
Primary Effects
Economic
Roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure were damaged
Electricity, water supplies, gas, and communications disrupted
Nearly 7,000 schools damaged
Historic buildings and UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley badly damaged or destroyed
Approx. 500,000 homes destroyed
Environmental
Roads and settlements buried or blocked by landslides
Ground shifted by several metres near the epicenre
Landslides triggered in mountainous areas
Water supplies and sanitation systems were damaged
Social
Around 3 million people displaced or in need of shelter
Around 8 million people affected
Approx. 22,000 people injured
Many people lost their homes and possessions
Approx. 9,000 people died
Secondary Effects
Economic
This reduced income for hotels, guides, restaurants, and businesses
Landslides blocked roads making it difficult to transport supplies and reach remote communities
Tourism declined as visitors cancelled trips to Nepal
Total damage and economic losses were estimated at approx. US$7 billion
Environmental
Monsoon rains caused additional landslides and increased risk of flooding
Avalanche at Everest Base Camp destroyed parts of the climbing route, including the Khumbu Icefall
Further landslides occurred because the earthquake had destabilised mountain slopes
Social
Around 1.5 million people faced food shortages
People living in temporary shelters faced increased risks from poor sanitation, contaminated water, and disease
Landslides buries settlements, including parts of Langtang village
Many children were unable to attend school because classrooms had collapsed
Avalanche on Mount Everest killed approx. 19 climbers at Everest Base Camp
Why Were The Impacts So Severe
Remote villages difficult for rescue teams to reach
Damaged roads and limited transport links slowed the delivery of emergency supplies
Steep slopes in mountainous landscape made landslides and avalanches more likely
Nepal had fewer resources, equipment, and trained rescue teams than wealthier countries, meaning they had to rely on foreign aid a lot
Many homes poorly built using stone, brick, and mud without earthquake resistant designs
Key Point: Nepal's lower level of wealth meant that buildings were less earthquake resistant and emergency services had fewer resources, making the impacts more severe and recover hardre
Long-Term Responses
Nepal received financial assistance from other countries and international organisations to support reconstruction
Tourist attractions and trekking routes gradually reopened to help restore income and employment
Damaged schools and medical facilities were rebuilt to restore essential services
Damaged historic buildings and temples repaired or reconstructed
Roads, bridges, water supplies and electricity networks were repaired
The Nepal Reconstruction Authority was established in December 2015 to coordinate rebuilding
Destroyed homes rebuilt with support for safer construction
Greater emphasis placed on earthquake-resistant building techniques and following building regulations
Ten Figures to Memorise
9,000 → deaths
22,000 → injured
15km → approx. focus depth
3 million → displaced
80km north-west → distance from Kathmandu
8 million → affected
7.8 → magnitude
19 → climbers killed by Everest avalanche
25th April 2015 → date
$7 billion → estimated total damage and economic losses