It sits above the point where the continental tectonic plate meets the Asian landmass. Less than two weeks ago, Nepal observed the 67th anniversary of the last major earthquake to hit Nepal, in 1934. Years of rebuilding The quake devastated the Himalayan kingdom, leaving nearly 9,000 people dead, half of them in and around Kathmandu. It took years to rebuild homes and buildings and repair the damage. Today, many experts are warning that Nepal is not well enough prepared for big earthquakes, despite the horrific experiences of 1934.
People here are certainly aware of the dangers.
The local media has been reporting that the country is far from ready. Unable to cope' Using the model of the last big quake, experts here have estimated that casualties and damage from a quake of similar severity would be far, far greater than in 1934, and the emergency services would probably not be able to cope. There are not enough hospital beds or fire fighting units in Kathmandu to cope with more than a few thousand casualties or fires. A single airport runway and two highways connect the heavily populated capital with sources of emergency supplies. A blockage on one or all of those routes to the outside world would cause immense hardship.