Outdoor Shelters Spread Across Katmandu

As residents seek refuge in outdoor camps throughout the city, a temporary shelter landscape has emerged. Areas in red on the map below indicate spaces where camps have been set up. UPDATED April 29 | Related Article »

New bus

Park

Manhattan

KATMANDU

Camp areas in the map at left

would combine to take up this

much of New York City

Durbar

Square

sinamangal

Maps are

to scale

Tribhuvan

International

Airport

kuleshwor

shankhamul

1 Mile

samakhusi

KATMANDU

Durbar

Square

sinamangal

Airport

kuleshwor

shankhamul

Area of

Analysis

1 Mile

New bus

Park

Manhattan

KATMANDU

Camp areas in the map at left

would combine to take up this

much of New York City

Durbar

Square

sinamangal

Tribhuvan

International

Airport

kuleshwor

Maps are

to scale

shankhamul

1 Mile

Manhattan

New bus

Park

Camp areas in the map at left would combine to take up this much of New York City

KATMANDU

Maps are

to scale

1 Mile

New bus

Park

KATMANDU

1 Mile

Maps are

to scale

Manhattan

Camp areas in the map above would combine to take up this much of New York City

By The New York Times | Sources: OpenStreetMap, Kathmandu Living Labs

Tally of Deaths

As rescuers continue to search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings, the number of the dead is expected to rise. The two districts with the largest tolls are Katmandu and Sindhupalchok, each with over 800 confirmed deaths by Monday evening. UPDATED April 29 | Related Article »

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

Districts with

most deaths

Gorkha

399

deaths

Lamjung

Pokhara

rasuwa

302

Sindhupalchok

1,376

DHADING

369

NUWAKOT

638

Katmandu

1,039

Bharatpur

BHAKTAPUR

250

NEPAL

lalitpur

159

kabrepalanchok

273

Hetauda

Aftershocks

20 Miles

India

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

Districts with

most deaths

Gorkha

399

deaths

Lamjung

Pokhara

rasuwa

302

Sindhupalchok

1,376

DHADING

369

NUWAKOT

638

Katmandu

1,039

Bharatpur

BHAKTAPUR

250

NEPAL

lalitpur

159

kabrepalanchok

273

Hetauda

Aftershocks

20 Miles

India

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

Districts with

most deaths

Gorkha

399

deaths

Lamjung

Pokhara

rasuwa

302

Sindhupalchok

1,376

DHADING

369

NUWAKOT

638

Katmandu

1,039

Bharatpur

BHAKTAPUR

250

NEPAL

lalitpur

159

kabrepalanchok

273

Hetauda

Aftershocks

20 Miles

India

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

Gorkha

399 deaths

rasuwa

302

Sindhupalchok

1,376

DHADING

369

NEPAL

NUWAKOT

638

Katmandu

1,039

BHAKTAPUR

250

Districts with

most deaths

lalitpur

159

kabrepalanchok

273

India

By The New York Times | Sources: CEDIM, U.S.G.S.

Sindhupalchok District

The district has recorded the deaths and has the second highest per capita death rate at more than four deaths per thousand residents.

Katmandu

The densely populated capital district has the second highest death toll.

Gorkha District

Some villages in the district at the epicenter of the earthquake reported that more than 70 percent of houses were destroyed.

Bhaktapur

Casualties in the district have been especially high in the dense center of the ancient temple city of Bhaktapur.

Temporary Camps Around Katmandu

Residents displaced by the earthquake are taking shelter in temporary camps set up by the government of Nepal in open spaces. Fears of aftershocks have deterred many from returning indoors, despite heavy rains. UPDATED April 28 | Related Article »

NUWAKOT

DHADING

Camps for

displaced people

Katmandu

Bhaktapur

Makwanpur

5 Miles

NUWAKOT

DHADING

Camps for

displaced people

Katmandu

Bhaktapur

Makwanpur

5 Miles

NUWAKOT

Camps for

displaced people

Katmandu

Bhaktapur

Makwanpur

5 Miles

NUWAKOT

Camps for

displaced people

Katmandu

Bhaktapur

5 Miles

By The New York Times | Sources: Camp locations from the National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency and the United Nations Country Team in Nepal

What Caused the Deaths at Everest Base Camp

The Nepal earthquake caused an ice cliff to shear off, creating an avalanche that sent many tons of ice crashing more than 2,000 vertical feet down the face and toward Base Camp. UPDATED April 27

Lingtren

Pumori

Ice cliff

Tents at Base Camp

Upper portion of Base Camp

Pumori

Ice cliff

Tents at Base Camp

Upper portion of Base Camp

Pumori

Ice cliff

Upper portion of Base Camp

Photograph and Base Camp information by Eric Simonson, International Mountain Guides (photographs from April, 2002); Dr. Karl Birkeland, director, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, National Avalanche Center

Much of the damage at Base Camp resulted from the air blast that was created in front of the avalanche. The blast was dense with suspended particles of snow and ice, and it blew tents and climbers across the glacier. The debris and blast caused more than a dozen deaths and many injuries.

Estimate of the Destruction in Katmandu

The densely populated capital of Nepal, Katmandu, suffered extensive damage from the earthquake. An analysis using satellite imagery captured before and after the earthquake found that about 180 structures in the city’s center were destroyed. The damage was most concentrated around Durbar Square, where many historical and cultural sites are located. UPDATED April 27

1/2 Mile

Destroyed structure

dhobichaur

Dilli Bazaar

Durbar Square

KATMANDU

sinamangal

sundhara

singha durbar

teku

Tribhuvan

International

Airport

Bagmati River

1/2 Mile

Destroyed structure

dhobichaur

Dilli Bazaar

Durbar Square

KATMANDU

sinamangal

sundhara

singha durbar

teku

Tribhuvan

International

Airport

Bagmati River

1/2 Mile

Destroyed structure

dhobichaur

Dilli Bazaar

Durbar Square

KATMANDU

sundhara

singha durbar

teku

Bagmati River

1/2 Mile

Destroyed structure

dhobichaur

KATMANDU

Durbar Square

sundhara

Most

affected

area

singha

durbar

Bagmati River

The New York Times | Source: European Commission Copernicus Emergency Management Service

Unprecedented Rescues on Everest

The earthquake touched off avalanches on Mount Everest, causing injuries and deaths at Base Camp. The avalanches also destroyed a portion of the route, trapping climbers who were at higher altitudes. An unprecedented helicopter rescue effort on Monday brought about 150 of the trapped climbers back to Base Camp. UPDATED April 27 | Related Article »

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

Upper slopes

Climbers trapped

by avalanche.

Camp 3

Camp 2

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter

rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

Upper slopes

Climbers trapped

by avalanche.

Camp 3

Camp 2

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter

rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

Mt. Lhotse

27,940 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

26,300 ft.

Camp 3

23,500 ft.

North

Face

Lhotse

Face

Camp 2

21,000 FT.

Approximate location

of an avalanche that

killed 16 a year ago.

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

Mt. Lhotse

27,940 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

26,300 ft.

Camp 3

23,500 ft.

North

Face

Lhotse

Face

Camp 2

21,000 FT.

Approximate location

of an avalanche that

killed 16 a year ago.

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

Mt. Lhotse

27,940 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

26,300 ft.

Camp 3

23,500 ft.

North

Face

Lhotse

Face

Camp 2

21,000 FT.

Approximate location

of an avalanche that

killed 16 a year ago.

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Mt. Everest summit

29,035 FT.

Mt. Lhotse

27,940 FT.

South col

route

Camp 4

26,300 ft.

Camp 3

23,500 ft.

North

Face

Lhotse

Face

Camp 2

21,000 FT.

Approximate location

of an avalanche that

killed 16 a year ago.

Camp 1

19,500 FT.

Helicopter rescue.

Khumbu Icefall

Route impassable.

Base Camp

17,500 FT

Avalanche crashed

through here.

Camp 2 and above

With no hope of helicopter rescue at these altitudes, climbers streamed down to Camp 1.

Camp 1

Saturday’s avalanches surrounded Camp 1 and caused some damage but no known deaths. A break in the weather on Monday allowed helicopters to reach Camp 1 for the rescue of more than 140 trapped climbers. The high altitude meant that only small helicopters could access the camp, rescuing the climbers two at a time. It was by far the largest rescue mission on Everest.

Khumbu Icefall

Normally a two-hour descent from Camp 1 to Base Camp, the Icefall route was partially destroyed by the avalanches, trapping climbers at the camps above it. Aftershocks and unsteady terrain have prevented the route from being repaired.

Base Camp

At least 18 were killed and more than 60 were injured after an avalanche sent snow, ice and boulders ripping through the camp. Helicopters transported some of the injured to Katmandu.

By The New York Times | Sources: Alan Arnette, a professional mountaineer; report from Camp 1 is from RMI Expeditions blog. Photograph by Grant Dixon/Hedgehog House, via Getty Images

Earthquake Strikes Across a Wide Area

The quake — Nepal’s worst in 80 years — leveled villages close to the epicenter, caused landslides and avalanches, crippled transportation networks and collapsed buildings across central Nepal. UPDATED April 26 | Related Article »

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

NEPAL

Gorkha

Lamjung

Pokhara

Mount

Everest

Katmandu

Aftershocks

Area of

strong shaking

India

50 miles

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

NEPAL

Gorkha

Lamjung

Pokhara

Mount

Everest

Katmandu

Aftershocks

Area of

strong shaking

India

50 miles

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

NEPAL

Gorkha

Lamjung

Pokhara

Mount

Everest

Katmandu

Aftershocks

Area of

strong shaking

India

50 miles

China

Epicenter of magnitude

7.8 earthquake

Gorkha

Lamjung

Pokhara

NEPAL

Katmandu

Aftershocks

Area of

strong shaking

50 miles

India

By The New York Times | Source: U.S.G.S.

Aftershocks Rattle a Devastated Region

Nepal had numerous aftershocks of magnitude 4, 5 and 6 in the days following the initial earthquake. Residents sought shelter in streets and open spaces, even as they were pelted by heavy rain on Sunday. UPDATED April 26 | Related Article »

Magnitude 5 or larger Magnitude 4-5

CHINA

20 miles

Bagmati

Initial

quake

Katmandu

Katmandu

Katmandu

NEPAL

0-6 hours after initial quake

6-12 hours

12-18 hours

Katmandu

Katmandu

Katmandu

18-24 hours

24-30 hours

30+ hours

CHINA

20 miles

Bagmati

Initial

quake

Katmandu

Katmandu

NEPAL

0-6 hours after initial quake

6-12 hours

Katmandu

Katmandu

12-18 hours

18-24 hours

Katmandu

Katmandu

24-30 hours

30+ hours

CHINA

Bagmati

Initial

quake

Katmandu

Katmandu

20 miles

NEPAL

0-6 hours

after initial quake

6-12 hours

Katmandu

Katmandu

12-18 hours

18-24 hours

Katmandu

Katmandu

24-30 hours

30+ hours

By The New York Times | Source: U.S.G.S. (data as of Sunday evening)