7.3M, 6.3M, and 5.6M aftershocks rattle Nepal

Following the 7.8M earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, a series of large aftershocks continues to hit Nepal. Yesterday, according to a tectonic summary by the U.S. Geological Survey the largest recorded aftershock to date registered at 7.3M and occurred at 07:05 UTC. Striking the Sindhupalchowk District, it was followed shortly by multiple aftershocks of magnitude 5 and higher, including one as strong as 6.3M.

According to a situation analysis from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Assessment Capacities Project, the earthquake was felt as far as New Delhi, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh. There have been a number of new reports of loss of life and injury, as well as of people buried under rubble from newly collapsed buildings. In addition to new damage occurring in additional areas, many buildings and much of the infrastructure damaged in the latest events were likely weakened by the 7.8M earthquake.

According to recent reports, landslides are a major concern for the area of the Himalaya foothills and areas around the epicenter. This further complicated transport of critically needed supplies to remote areas.

The Government of Nepal deployed search and rescue (SAR) teams and dispatched military helicopters to assess damage and possibly provide emergency health assistance. International SAR teams that remained in country from the earlier quake were requested to support the response.

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) remains actively involved with responding agencies, in order to provide value-added products that support real-world situational awareness (SA). SA products can be access through the PDC website—or if you are an emergency manager and would like access to PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform through EMOPS, please apply for an account at emops.pdc.org.

Click here to learn more about earthquake preparedness.

Learn more:
• Find PDC products about the 7.8M earthquake,
• Read about a 2014 Disaster Response Exercise in Nepal, or
• Visit ReliefWeb for additional sources and links.

Additional PDC news regarding the 7.8M earthquake in Nepal:
• Earthquake Response Operations Shift in Nepal

• Emergency Communications Systems Improve as Response Operations Broaden
• Relief to Severely Impacted Remote Villages Hampered by Inaccessibility, Adverse Weather Conditions
•Preparedness Efforts Help Support Response in Nepal
•Initial Damage and Needs Assessment in Nepal
•Food Security Concerns in Nepal Grow as Demands Exceed In-Country Supply

• Health Care Resources Stretched Beyond Capacity by Earthquake Injuries
• Data Access for Supporting Response and Recovery in Nepal
• Critical Data on Infrastructure in Nepal as Death Toll Rises
• 7.8M Earthquake Strikes Nepal, Followed by Aftershocks