Nepal 2015 Earthquake; Uncertainty Prevails in the Himalayan Arc

At the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, an immense amount of energy builds up as the Indian plate continuously moves under the Eurasian plate. This buildup of energy has given rise to the highest mountains in the world; however, it also makes the Himalayan region seismically hazardous. As a result of this tectonic process, which began between 40 and 50 million years ago, the Himalayas have seen many great earthquakes, and seismic risks persist in many areas along the Himalayan arc, including in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. In many parts of the region, seismic events are often accompanied by secondary geological hazards, such as landslides, avalanches and floods. The impacts of the Nepal earthquake on 25 April 2015 and subsequent aftershocks have been devastating, killing over 8,600 people, damaging 780,000 houses, and triggering numerous secondary geohazards. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is providing technical support and scientific information to the Government of Nepal to meet challenges in the aftermath of the earthquake. This disaster highlights the importance of cooperation and coordination among countries in the Himalayan region to improve understanding of seismic risks in the region and prepare for earthquakes and their subsequent impacts in the future.