Tragedy in the Himalaya – Largest Earthquake for 80 years in Nepal

(Updated: 27th April 2015)

Almost all of you will have seen the tragic news coming from Nepal. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the region between Pokhara and Kathmandu, with at least 1000 killed at the time of writing. This number is likely to go up in the coming hours and days as the true extent of the devastation becomes apparent.

Here we note some recommend reading and news sources on the event:

UNISDR blogs from 2012 and today, giving valuable background information on the disaster risk reduction progress that has been made in Nepal and today’s event – http://www.unisdr.org/archive/29755 (2012) and http://www.unisdr.org/archive/43864 (2015)

UN Nepal Information Platform (for humanitarian situation reports from the region) – http://www.un.org.np/ (main website)

The USGS Event Page (for geological background and context) – http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us20002926#general_summary

Landslide Blog (for updates on landslides and their impacts following this event) – http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/

The Guardian Rolling Coverage (for media updates) – http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/25/nepal-earthquake-nation-worst-tremor-80-years-kathmandu-live-updates (blog closed), and the latest rolling coverage – http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/26/nepal-earthquake-death-toll-exceeds-1500-rolling-report

Other Relevant Articles and Information Sites:

Simon Redfern (University of Cambridge) – Nepal shows its vulnerability after devastating earthquake – http://theconversation.com/nepal-shows-its-vulnerability-after-devastating-earthquake-40799

Earthquakes without Frontiers – http://ewf.nerc.ac.uk/

Guardian – Nepal was made vulnerable by more than its violent geology – http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/26/nepal-earthquake-poverty-infrastructure-aid

Earthquakes Without Frontiers – Landslide Risk – http://ewf.nerc.ac.uk/2015/04/25/nepal-earthquake-likely-areas-of-landsliding/

Nature India – Nepal quake relieves some built up strain from the region – http://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2015.54

Thomson Reuters Foundation – Nepal Earthquake Article List – http://www.trust.org/spotlight/Nepal-earthquake

Nepal earthquake was ‘nightmare waiting to happen’ – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/mounteverest/11564009/Nepal-earthquake-experts-knew-disaster-was-coming.html

Kate Ravilious – Kathmandu’s Earthquake Nightmare – (Background article, written July 2014) – https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth-sciences/kathmandus-earthquake-nightmare

APPEALS: The UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) have launched an appeal. DEC bring together 13 of the UK’s leading development agencies in times of crisis. These agencies will be working against the clock to get vital food, water, shelter and blankets to survivors.

(Page to be updated as this story develops)