Title: Nepal’s Earthquake-Prone Western Region Faces Impending Threat, Seismologist Warns
Kathmandu, Nepal – Located on the precarious Himalayan seismic zone, Nepal, a highly earthquake-prone country, is under the looming threat of a larger earthquake in its western mountainous region, according to a leading seismologist. The government’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) report ranks Nepal as the 11th most earthquake-prone country globally.
Recent data reveals that Nepal has experienced over 70 earthquakes in 2023 alone, with the most recent being a powerful 6.4 magnitude quake occurring on Friday night in the remote western mountainous area. This seismic activity evokes painful memories of the devastating 2015 earthquake where at least 140 lives were lost.
Bharat Koirala, a senior seismologist at the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre in Nepal, explains that the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates has been accumulating significant energy underground. Nepal, lying at the boundary between these plates, is inevitably subjected to frequent seismic activity.
Koirala warns that Western Nepal is particularly susceptible to more substantial earthquakes due to the accumulation of energy over the last 520 years. He states, “Small or big earthquakes are taking place in these areas to release the energy, which is normal”. The youngest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, continue to evolve tectonically, resulting in the release of elastic energy stored in active geological faults within the Earth’s crust.
Recent data gathered by the Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre indicates a total of 70 earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 4.0 and above since January 1, 2023, in Nepal. Among these, 13 registered between magnitudes 5 and 6, while three surpassed magnitude 6.0. This consistent seismic activity is a long-standing mechanism to release accumulated energy.
Koirala emphasizes the unpredictability of future earthquakes in western Nepal, as the region has not experienced significant seismic events in the past few decades. However, he warns against ruling out the possibility of larger earthquakes, asserting, “We cannot predict when and how big they will be.”
Recent instances of seismic activity in Nepal include a powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu on October 22, which caused damage to 20 houses and instilled panic among the affected population. On October 3, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake along with multiple smaller quakes ranging from magnitudes 4 to 5 struck Bajhang district in the western region, causing minimal damage.
The 2015 earthquake in Nepal, measuring 7.8 magnitude, resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 9,000 lives and left almost 22,000 injured. Additionally, it rendered 3.5 million people homeless.
As Nepal remains highly susceptible to seismic activity, further research and preparedness measures are crucial to mitigate the potential risks posed by future earthquakes. The government and relevant agencies must prioritize the safety and well-being of the population in these earthquake-prone regions.
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