Earthquake Rocks Nepal
An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale rocked Nepal, with shocks felt as far as Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding districts on Sunday evening. According to earthquake.usgs.gov, the epicenter of the quake was at the eastern Nepal bordering with India. The quake lasted over a mintue in the Capital. However, the exact duration of the quake has yet to be verified. After the quake rocked, people were left panic-stricken and started running out of the buildings they were in to safer ground. It has been reported that at least five persons have died-- two from Dharan and three from the Capital. Initial reports confirmed, three persons have died and one injured when the wall of British Embassy in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, collapsed due to the quake. This was the most powerful quake to rock Nepal in 78 years. Nepal is situated on the border between two huge tectonic plates that have moved together over millions of years to form the Himalayas, geologists say.
The last major earthquake to hit Nepal struck to the east of the capital in 1934. It measured 8.4 on the Richter scale and killed more than 8,500 people in Nepal and neighbouring India.
From ekantipur.
