Overview
- Over 150 people lost their lives in a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the western region of Nepal, with survivors facing sleeping outdoors in cold conditions due to a lack of shelter.
- Aftershocks have continued to disrupt the region with a recorded 5.2-magnitude earthquake experienced only three days after the initial quake.
- Devastation from the earthquake has induced a food shortage, with remote locations and ensuing landslides hampering aid efforts:
- Many of the affected villages can only be reached on foot, and landslides have been obstructing roads.
- Nepal has experienced a sequence of powerful earthquakes within the week, leading to the loss of around 157 lives and causing significant property damage across many parts of the country.
- The earthquake brings about renewed discussion around construction safety as experts push for quake-resistant infrastructure given Nepal's position where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, causing frequent and potent earthquakes.