Nepal has been struck by a major earthquake at about 75 year intervals over the last millennium. The last big one in 1934 registered 8.4 on the Richter scale. It killed thousands of people and destroyed half of Kathmandu’s buildings. A similar earthquake today would kill 100,000, critically, wound 200,000 and displace about half of the city’s 2.5 million residents.

Most recent earthquakes in Nepal

Note: click on the location for a map of the area

Please take a look at this Earthquake Manual.
http://nepal.usembassy.gov./media/emergency-preparedness-manual.pdf

Table  Contents of PDF
Emergency Preparedness………………………………….3
Consular Section Contact Information…………………….4
Preparing for Earthquakes in Nepal
What to Do Before an Earthquake…………………..5-6
What to Do During an Earthquake…………………..7
What to Do After an Earthquake…………………….8
Building Your Emergency Kits….……………………9-10
The Importance of Water………………………….…11
Food Supplies…………………………………………12
First Aid………………………………………………..13-14
Shelter, Clothing and Bedding………………………15
Tools…………………..……………………………….16
The “Go-Bag”………………………………………….17
Emergency Plans for Pets……………………………18
Evacuation Fact Sheet……………………………….19-20
Rallying Points in Nepal………………………………21
Coping with Disasters…………………………………22-23
Where to Find Additional Information……………….24

A survey by KVERMP (Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project) in 2003/2004 warned that around 40.000 people might die and nearly 100.000 might suffer injury requiring hospital services when another earthquake measuring around 8.4 on the Richter scale (like the one in 1934) would hit the country.

The survey also estimated that six out of ten buildings would collapse. On top of that KVERMP also warns that 95 percent of water supply pipes might explode and 50 percent of bridges and 10 percent of roads could collapse in the valley.
In the face of such a calamity people would need prompt hospital services. But the major hospitals in Kathmandu are poorly built so most of them would be non-operational and the remaining ones will also see services disrupted.

Is Nepal prepared to face such a disaster ?

According to THT ONLINE

“Nothing could be said for sure if the earthquake in Japan has any bearing on these tremors or if these tremors are the precursor to a major earthquake in Nepal”

KATHMANDU: Quake tremors were felt across Kaski in Western Nepal, with the epicentre located around Hemja and Lahachowk of the district on late Friday evening and early Saturday morning.

A tremor measuring 4.3 on the Richter Scale was recorded in the hilly district at 10:33 pm, according to the National Seismological Centre (NSC), Department of Mines and Geology, Nepal.

Likewise, another quake of 3.4 magnitude was recorded early this morning at 4:13 am in the area soon followed by a 4.4-magnitude at 5:15 am and a 3.9-magnitude at 10:45 am, the NSC said.

The tremors have been felt at a time when a massive 8.9 strength earthquake hit Japan a day earlier unleashing a devastating tsunami leaving hundreds of people dead.

Talking to The Himalayan Times Online, Bharat Koirala, a seismologist at NSC, however said the connection between the Japan earthquake and the tremors felt in Nepal could hardly be established for now.

“Nothing could be said for sure if the earthquake in Japan has any bearing on these tremors or if these tremors are the precursor to a major earthquake in Nepal.”

“As one of the top earthquake-prone countries, Nepal has to anticipate any such major earthquake disasters and show preparedness to tackle them all the time,” Koirala said.

Source : THT and Earthquake Nepal

Now question arise

Are you all prepared for the impending earthquake in your country too?

Is Nepal prepared to face such a disaster ?

what do you think ?

Please write in comment.

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