7.9 Magnitude Quake hits Nepal

cornflake

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
16,171
Reaction score
3,734
Fifty miles from Kathmandu, apparently very shallow depth, felt as far away as New Delhi. Extensive damage and destruction of buildings and roads in initial reports.

Story here - little info as of yet, breaking.
 

Rufus Coppertop

Banned
Flounced
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
3,935
Reaction score
948
Location
.
I hope the death toll that's already about 100 doesn't climb.

I have a nasty feeling it will though.
 

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian
Staff member
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
16,876
Reaction score
5,189
Location
Near the gargoyles
Website
www.alessandrakelley.com
Earthquake strikes Kathmandu, Nepal, hundreds killed, landmarks destroyed

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32461019

At least 970 people are known to have died in a powerful earthquake in Nepal, with many more feared trapped under rubble, officials say.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara, the US Geological Survey said.

Tremors were felt across the region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh, Tibet and on Mount Everest.

The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas.
 

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Messages
14,205
Reaction score
884
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Long-period tremors, thankfully. Short-period tremors would have ripped the midrises, greatly increasing the death toll. Mid-rises are largely intact, if removed from their foundations which means more people are likely to have escaped. With long-period tremors, the tallest buildings will have been ripped apart and that is where the death tolls will be large. There aren't that many tall buildings in Kathmandu.
 

raburrell

Treguna Makoidees Trecorum SadisDee
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
6,902
Reaction score
3,781
Age
50
Location
MA
Website
www.rebeccaburrell.com
A former coworker is on holiday in Nepal right now. Really hoping he's nowhere near this :(
 

blacbird

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Messages
36,987
Reaction score
6,158
Location
The right earlobe of North America
Some climbers were killed, others injured, on a quake-generated avalanche on the upper slopes of Mt. Everest. At least 150 dead in Tibet, as well. As poorly-constructed as many of the dwellings are in Nepal, and as remote as many villages are, this death toll could reach into five figures.

It's also probable that Mt. Everest got a little higher.

caw
 

frimble3

Heckuva good sport
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
11,574
Reaction score
6,396
Location
west coast, canada
Those poor people! And it looks, from the pictures, that most of the buildings are stone or brick, which makes a collapse that much more deadly than wood-frame or girder/concrete panel.
 

chompers

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
2,506
Reaction score
384
Some climbers were killed, others injured, on a quake-generated avalanche on the upper slopes of Mt. Everest. At least 150 dead in Tibet, as well. As poorly-constructed as many of the dwellings are in Nepal, and as remote as many villages are, this death toll could reach into five figures.

It's also probable that Mt. Everest got a little higher.

caw
One of those killed in the avalanche was a Google exec.
 

raburrell

Treguna Makoidees Trecorum SadisDee
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
6,902
Reaction score
3,781
Age
50
Location
MA
Website
www.rebeccaburrell.com
Heard from my friend this morning and he's okay. They were only about 20 miles from the epicenter, in Pokhara. He said it was pretty terrifying and it lasted quite a long time, but there's not much damage where they are.

Very relieved, but sad for the people who weren't so lucky :(