Nepal’s Quake-Battered Western Region at Risk of Bigger Earthquake, Seismologist Warns
Kathmandu, Nepal – Situated on the precarious Himalayan seismic zone, Nepal is known to be a highly earthquake-prone country. According to a report by the government’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA), Nepal ranks as the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world. Recently, a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal’s western mountainous region, adding to a long list of over 70 quakes that have occurred in the country in 2023.
The latest earthquake, with its epicentre in Jajarkot district, resulted in at least 140 fatalities and invoked painful memories of the devastating 2015 earthquake. Bharat Koirala, a senior seismologist at the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre in Nepal, explained that the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates underground has been accumulating immense energy over time. Nepal sits on the boundary of these plates, making it a highly active seismic region and prone to earthquakes.
Koirala emphasized that western Nepal is particularly under threat of bigger earthquakes. He noted that no major earthquake has occurred in that region for the past 520 years, indicating a significant accumulation of energy that can only be released through seismic activity. The tectonic movement between Gorkha in western Nepal and Dehradun in India has stored substantial energy, leading to frequent small or large earthquakes.
The Himalayas, the youngest mountain ranges in the world, have continuously evolved due to the collision between the Eurasian plate and the Indian continental plate. This tectonic activity causes the mountains to rise and brings the two plates closer by two meters every century. As a result, elastic energy accumulates within the active geological faults, periodically causing movements in the earth’s crust.
Data from the Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre reveal a total of 70 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and above in Nepal since January 1, 2023. Among these, 13 earthquakes were between magnitudes 5 and 6, and three were above magnitude 6.0. Koirala explains that these earthquakes occur on a daily basis, as they serve to release the energy accumulated by the tectonic plate movement over centuries.
Although there has not been a significant earthquake in the Jajarkot area for the past few decades, Koirala emphasizes that the risk of a larger earthquake occurring in western Nepal in the future remains. He highlights the unpredictability of when and how big such an earthquake could be.
In recent months, Nepal has experienced other notable earthquakes, including a powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu’s capital, which caused damage to 20 houses. Additionally, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake and several smaller ones hit western Nepal’s Bajhang district, resulting in minimal damage.
Nepal still bears the scars of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015, which claimed the lives of around 9,000 people and left millions homeless. The country’s vulnerability to earthquakes necessitates constant vigilance and preparedness for future seismic events.
I have over 10 years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and I have been on the list of the top authors on LinkedIn for the past 5 years. I have a wealth of knowledge to share with my readers, and my goal is to help them navigate the ever-changing world of cryptocurrencies.
