Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Rocks Nepal...When is the next one?

A massive, magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked the far eastern region of Nepal yesterday, along its border with the Indian state of Sikkim.

Reports from this remote region are scarce, and the death toll stands currently at "only" 69, but that number will most likely grow as more information percolates in from villages and outlying areas. Even Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and 270 kilometers from the quake's epicenter, was hit hard, with many buildings collapsing, including a brick wall at the British Embassy that fell and killed a man and his daughter on a motorcycle.

 

Reading this of course makes my heart go out to all my friends halfway around the world, living in Nepal, Sikkim, India, and Tibet.

And, it makes me worry about what is to come, and think back to the frightening article by geologist and Himalayan earthquake expert Roger Bilham. It appeared in Himal Magazine back in 1994, when I was living and studying in Nepal, and has never been far from my mind. Read The Next Great Earthquake here.

Nepal, I'm thinking of you, and keeping my fingers crossed.

Jake Norton is an Everest climber, guide, photographer, writer, and motivational speaker from Colorado.

Comments

[Sujoy Das]

Sikkim has also been very badly affected. The epicentre of the earthquake was a meadow below Kanchenjunga called Dzongri, a popular trekking destination. In North Sikkim the death toll mounts every day and yet a large number of people are reported missing. There was a report in a newspaper that building dams along the Teesta valley in a number of places may be one of the reasons for the earthquake.
Sujoy
http://www.sujoydas.com

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This is one of the most destructive earthquakes of 2011. We should extend our help to Nepal.

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[Andi Smidth]

It is heartbreaking to see victims of a tragedy. They might say that the death toll is "only" 69 but the the families of these victims are grieving for the loss of a loved one. I'd suggest the families to look into www.deathletters.org. The grieving process is a long and painful one but knowing someone is going through the same thing gets it a little less difficult.