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Hello,
I hope you had a good weekend. Although this thread seems more suited for the “Current Events, Power and Money” sub-forum. I, after having communicated with Fok, have decided to post it here as this is the largest sub-forum and we feel that the issue is of relevance to everyone.
An earthquake of 7.9 Richter struck Lamjung, Nepal at 11:56 AM, on 25th April 2015. At the time of writing, 47 aftershocks ranging from 4.1 Richter to 6.7 Richter have followed. The Richter is a base-10 log scale which basically means that each increment is a multiple of 10. So, an earthquake of 7 richter is ten times stronger than an earthquake of 6 Richter and HUNDRED times stronger than an earthquake of 5 Richter. Earthquakes below 4 Richter are considered minor, and we do not feel the effects of earthquakes below 2 Richter. This earthquake was felt across Northern India and Central and Eastern Nepal. The epicenter is about 50 miles away from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, which also happens to be the most populated city in Nepal. Buildings damaged and/or collapsed, roads cracked and the airport was temporarily shut down. Some of these buildings were centuries old, of which four were considered to be World Heritage Sites. There is no electricity and cell phone services in various parts of the country. One man from a rural village had to walk 8 hours to reach to a telephone.
At the time of writing, it is estimated that more than 2500 people have lost their lives to the earthquake. However, this number is sure to rise. For instance, Barpak, a small village close to the epicenter, was completely destroyed. And of the 1200, only 4 houses remain. It is estimated that more than 700 people have lost their lives.
If you want to know more about the earthquake please visit the following:
If you are trying to contact loved ones, try the following. But even if you don’t find them there, don’t assume the worst.
Although Nepal is located in one of the most seismically active regions in the world, it was not prepared for the earthquake. The politicians have been busy bickering with each other for decades and issues such as disaster relief and infrastructure development have been left in the back burner. For instance, the only earthquake-proof blood banks were sponsored by the United States government and the British Red Cross.
Strange as it may seem, the Nepalese are worried but they aren’t panicking and the disaster has brought them even closer. People are trying to do the best they can to help . Most are camped out in and are sharing food, water and whatever else they can. Some have set-up their own search and rescue team, digging through the rubble with their bare hands. Medics are providing free health care and there is even a group that is out distributing instant noodles. However, I have been told that the city is eerily quiet. People are scared. And the sporadic but frequent aftershocks only reinforces this fear.
Various countries and organizations have provided or promised aid, but the Nepalese people could still use more. People have lost homes and families. The hospitals are full, and it is very likely that supplies are running out. It is imperative to keep things organized and hygienic in order to avoid a major outbreak. If you would like to donate, you might find this list relevant. And here if you are looking for more comprehensive information.
Thanks for your time.
I hope you had a good weekend. Although this thread seems more suited for the “Current Events, Power and Money” sub-forum. I, after having communicated with Fok, have decided to post it here as this is the largest sub-forum and we feel that the issue is of relevance to everyone.
An earthquake of 7.9 Richter struck Lamjung, Nepal at 11:56 AM, on 25th April 2015. At the time of writing, 47 aftershocks ranging from 4.1 Richter to 6.7 Richter have followed. The Richter is a base-10 log scale which basically means that each increment is a multiple of 10. So, an earthquake of 7 richter is ten times stronger than an earthquake of 6 Richter and HUNDRED times stronger than an earthquake of 5 Richter. Earthquakes below 4 Richter are considered minor, and we do not feel the effects of earthquakes below 2 Richter. This earthquake was felt across Northern India and Central and Eastern Nepal. The epicenter is about 50 miles away from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, which also happens to be the most populated city in Nepal. Buildings damaged and/or collapsed, roads cracked and the airport was temporarily shut down. Some of these buildings were centuries old, of which four were considered to be World Heritage Sites. There is no electricity and cell phone services in various parts of the country. One man from a rural village had to walk 8 hours to reach to a telephone.
At the time of writing, it is estimated that more than 2500 people have lost their lives to the earthquake. However, this number is sure to rise. For instance, Barpak, a small village close to the epicenter, was completely destroyed. And of the 1200, only 4 houses remain. It is estimated that more than 700 people have lost their lives.
If you want to know more about the earthquake please visit the following:
- BBC's Live Coverage
- The Guardian's Live Coverage
- Reddit's Live Coverage
- USGS's self-updating Earthquake Map
If you are trying to contact loved ones, try the following. But even if you don’t find them there, don’t assume the worst.
Although Nepal is located in one of the most seismically active regions in the world, it was not prepared for the earthquake. The politicians have been busy bickering with each other for decades and issues such as disaster relief and infrastructure development have been left in the back burner. For instance, the only earthquake-proof blood banks were sponsored by the United States government and the British Red Cross.
Strange as it may seem, the Nepalese are worried but they aren’t panicking and the disaster has brought them even closer. People are trying to do the best they can to help . Most are camped out in and are sharing food, water and whatever else they can. Some have set-up their own search and rescue team, digging through the rubble with their bare hands. Medics are providing free health care and there is even a group that is out distributing instant noodles. However, I have been told that the city is eerily quiet. People are scared. And the sporadic but frequent aftershocks only reinforces this fear.
Various countries and organizations have provided or promised aid, but the Nepalese people could still use more. People have lost homes and families. The hospitals are full, and it is very likely that supplies are running out. It is imperative to keep things organized and hygienic in order to avoid a major outbreak. If you would like to donate, you might find this list relevant. And here if you are looking for more comprehensive information.
Thanks for your time.
