A woman walked among houses that were destroyed by the earthquake near Kathmandu (cat•man•DOO), Nepal.
On April 25, 2015, the small South Asian country of Nepal, located high up in the Himalayan mountain range, was hit by a devastating earthquake. More than 8,000 people died, and many thousands more were injured or are still missing. The United Nations estimates that two million homes were destroyed. Some survivors have been pulled from the wreckage. Many tourists were also present when the earthquake hit. This is because the Himalayan nation is a popular destination for mountain climbers, hoping to scale Mount Everest.
People around the world have responded to calls for help. An urgent relief effort is under way to provide food, shelter, clean water, and emergency medical care. Many people have been donating to groups such as UNICEF USA, who are providing humanitarian assistance to children and families in Nepal. The World Food Program and the International Committee of the Red Cross are also on the ground helping victims.
The United States military is helping lead the disaster relief effort. It is flying needed supplies into the country and heavy equipment to remove the rubble. Experts from the United States and other countries are assisting the Nepalese government in assessing damage to the nation’s infrastructure. Infrastructure is the roads, bridges, and other structures and equipment that a country needs to function.
The quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, was centered near the capital city of Kathmandu. Because Nepal is one of the most remote countries in the world, it has been a challenge for relief efforts to reach the mountain villages hit hard by the disaster. Many roads were severely damaged. Kathmandu’s airport also suffered some cracked runways because it was not equipped to handle the large cargo planes bringing in aid.
On May 12, just 17 days after the earthquake struck, a major aftershock jolted Nepal. More than 100 people died, and thousands more were injured. The aftershock also caused further damage to homes and buildings. Relief efforts continue as Nepal struggles to recover.
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