Earthquakes in Nepal 2015
April 25th, 2015 - Earthquakes and aftershocks in Nepal
The possibility of an earthquake in Nepal has been mentioned over the years. We knew there was a possibility, and I made an earthquake kit after arriving in Nepal and moving into our house.
We stood, knees shaking in the narrow street, hugging, hoping nothing would fly off the rooftops and hit us. Dave, covering my head with his arm, said, "This is a big one". As soon as the shaking stopped, we decided the best thing to do was to make a dash for our car and head home.
Everyone was desperately trying to call on their cellphones - without success. Lines were jammed, and there was no way to get through to people to tell them you were okay and ask if they were alright. Electricity was out, and it was starting to rain.
At the parking lot, when we walked up, they said, "Look at your car." Our poor little car had a part of a brick wall sitting on it. This was unexpected and took some time to back out. As Dave carefully backed up the wall clung to the car, etching and scraping its signature on the hood.
Free from the tenacious hold of the wall, we eased out into the main road. It was as if we were driving on the sidewalk because people were standing in the road. It was impossible to decide on the best one to take to get out of Kathmandu. We made one turn, and I said, "This may not be the best road since it is small." But it was the best road. The other choice was near Dharahara Tower, which had just collapsed, but we were not aware of that event yet.
A cow and four goats were killed in the collapsed cowshed. That was a big loss to the family income. Eventually, they scraped through the rubble to find some rice and maize to eat.
In Pathletkhet, some are using a woven basket-type material on a wooden frame with tin sheets for the roof. The inside is lined with chicken wire to give it more stability and protection. It has a breeze moving through, but it might be quite cold in the winter. Already, they were plastering a layer of mud and dung on the bottom layer.
Now it is time to plant rice and get on with life. Still, the aftershocks continue over 340 to date. But we usually don't feel the 4 to 5M shakers unless they are very close by.
Life must go on, and we must work to rebuild our lives and homes.
Then I thought that if an earthquake hit Kathmandu, I would not want to be in the crowded tourist center of Thamel. Well, it hit, and that was where we were on the 25th of April 2015 when the 7.8M earthquake struck Nepal.
People were standing in the road away from the walls and buildings, everyone afraid to move. Electric poles had fallen, crisscrossing the road - one across a taxi. We just wanted to get to the main road.
Everyone was desperately trying to call on their cellphones - without success. Lines were jammed, and there was no way to get through to people to tell them you were okay and ask if they were alright. Electricity was out, and it was starting to rain.
The first aftershock, a 6.7 magnitude, hit when we were near the Jawalakhel zoo. We couldn't decide if it was better to be in or out of the car. We slowly drove on, and suddenly panic hit; people started shouting and running behind us. We listened as they cried, "The tiger escaped from the zoo." A terrible rumor, but one of many.
A large brand-new high-rise apartment was riddled with large cracks. It was guaranteed to withstand a 9M earthquake - Ha! We always commented that living in such a place was a bad idea. That was quite obvious even before the earthquake.
From the car, we saw that older buildings were falling into the road. It was hard to get past the debris. Some looked as if they were poured into the road like a chunky liquid.
Arriving at our house, we found the roof of the guest extension had crashed inside the two rooms and slid off to the ground below. We were happy that our recent guests had already left - the children's beds were still on the floor, covered with heavy roof tiles and dust. A roof tile on the head would be deadly.
We spent a restless night trying to sleep between aftershocks and wondering if we were safe inside. The next morning, we needed to know about the people in the village and walked to their houses. Some houses were completely broken. Others didn't look too bad from the outside but were dangerous on the inside due to collapsed inner floors.
Outside, the main building was cracked, and bricks fell from the corners. The covered entry was damaged and had to be removed before it fell. Inside the walls were cracked badly with plaster chunks everywhere - it looked dangerous. Bookshelves had toppled, scattering books across the rooms.
Houses made of concrete held up, mostly. But the traditional mud, stone, and wood houses came tumbling down.
From the car, we saw that older buildings were falling into the road. It was hard to get past the debris. Some looked as if they were poured into the road like a chunky liquid.
Arriving at our house, we found the roof of the guest extension had crashed inside the two rooms and slid off to the ground below. We were happy that our recent guests had already left - the children's beds were still on the floor, covered with heavy roof tiles and dust. A roof tile on the head would be deadly.
We spent a restless night trying to sleep between aftershocks and wondering if we were safe inside. The next morning, we needed to know about the people in the village and walked to their houses. Some houses were completely broken. Others didn't look too bad from the outside but were dangerous on the inside due to collapsed inner floors.
ICIMOD Office
The ICIMOD office was also damaged, but not structurally, according to seven engineers who checked the building. The beautiful, newly built Bhutan Pavilion came crashing down with the first 6.7M aftershock.
Outside, the main building was cracked, and bricks fell from the corners. The covered entry was damaged and had to be removed before it fell. Inside the walls were cracked badly with plaster chunks everywhere - it looked dangerous. Bookshelves had toppled, scattering books across the rooms.
Back on the Road
In Dhading, we found Nirmala's father's house was in ruins. The elder aunty had rescued 5 grandchildren, but then fainted and cut her face as she fell. Nine people were eating and sleeping in a tiny tin enclosure made from the tin roofing sheets.
From the city to the inner hills and up to the mountains, tent cities grew. Spots and splashes of bright blue, orange, and green tarpaulins dot the landscape.
People need a house to live in. Temporary urgent measures with tarps strung over poles are fine for now, but will not last through the monsoon.
Children were very vulnerable and unsure. Everything familiar has gone or is in ruins.
Schools were damaged and not safe for children to sit in the classrooms.
Harisiddhi was hit hard, and people organized their own clean-up. They talk of rebuilding as soon as they can. Sorting through the rubble to find belongings was the first priority, then bricks were stacked and usable wood placed to one side in hopes of rebuilding.
The means to rebuild while keeping their traditions and architectural styles will be imperative.
It will take time.....
Meanwhile, back in Nirmala's village, the children were given some airline toys left by friends. Small things make them very happy. We gave bags of rice and other supplies to the family.
The psychological damage was greater than the death count. Everyone was starting to get on with life when this new event created renewed terror and uncertainty. Back to the tents and cars - no one would sleep inside their homes, and if they did, it was on the ground floor next to an open door.
Before the 25th of April and after. This village house was three levels on April 10th, but reduced to one 15 days later. Still, the lower level of the house is usable. Many don't have even one level left.
Old Newari villages and the Durbar palaces were badly damaged. In the ancient areas of Basanthapur, Patan, and Bhaktapur, they quickly cleared the debris of the old temples and palaces.
It will take time.....
Meanwhile, back in Nirmala's village, the children were given some airline toys left by friends. Small things make them very happy. We gave bags of rice and other supplies to the family.
12th May 2015
7.4M aftershock rocks the valley again
What was standing but damaged came down on the 12th of May. Large aftershocks continued, and the ground felt like jelly.The psychological damage was greater than the death count. Everyone was starting to get on with life when this new event created renewed terror and uncertainty. Back to the tents and cars - no one would sleep inside their homes, and if they did, it was on the ground floor next to an open door.
Before the 25th of April and after. This village house was three levels on April 10th, but reduced to one 15 days later. Still, the lower level of the house is usable. Many don't have even one level left.
Deconstruction continues as people pile up bricks to use again if they can. House debris fills the road and clogs traffic. They have no place to put the rubble and will try to reuse as many of the bricks as possible.
A transition is beginning toward interim housing. In Harisiddhi, they are making Quonset-type houses that have doors and windows but are oven-hot in the daytime.
Now it is time to plant rice and get on with life. Still, the aftershocks continue over 340 to date. But we usually don't feel the 4 to 5M shakers unless they are very close by.
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