The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (also known as the Gorkha earthquake) killed more than 8,000 people and injured more than 19,000. It occurred at on 25 April, with a magnitude of 7.8Mw or 8.1Ms and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of VIII (Severe). Its epicenter was the village of Barpak, Gorkha district, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 15 km (9.3 mi).[1] It was the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake.
The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 19,making it the deadliest day on the mountain in history. It triggered another huge avalanche in the Langtang valley, where 250 were reported missing.
Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless with entire villages flattened, across many districts of the country. Centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including some at theKathmandu Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar Square and the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Geophysicists and other experts had warned for decades that Nepal was vulnerable to a deadly earthquake, particularly because of its geology, urbanization, and architecture.
Continued aftershocks occurred throughout Nepal within 15–20 minute intervals, with one shock reaching a magnitude of 6.7 on 26 April at NST.[4] The country also had a continued risk of landslides.
A second major earthquake occurred on 12 May 2015 at with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.3. Mw. The epicenter was near the Chinese border between the capital of Kathmandu and Mt. Everest. More than 125 people were killed and more than 2,500 were injured by this aftershock.
