Nepal shows its vulnerability after devastating earthquake

Following the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal this weekend, Simon Redfern, Professor in Earth Sciences at University of Cambridge, explains in The Conversation how a combination of factors has come together with fatal consequences. Now is the time for us all to consider how we can help those most in need, in practical ways - Simon Redfern For some time scientists have realised that the Kathmandu valley is one of the most dangerous places in the world , in terms of earthquake risk. And now a combination of high seismic activity at the front of the Tibetan plateau, poor building standards, and haphazard urbanisation have come together with fatal consequences. The magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit Nepal hit just before noon , local time, on Saturday around 48 miles north west of Kathmandu. The Indian tectonic plate is driving beneath the Eurasian plate at an average rate of 45mm per year along a front that defines the edge of the Tibetan plateau. This force created the Himalayas, and Nepal lies slap bang along that front. The quake was shallow, estimated at 12km depth, and devastating as the Indian crust thrust beneath Tibet one more time.