Skip to main content

Nepal’s earthquake devastation revealed

Reports from Nepal highlight the devastation the country has suffered due to its recent massive earthquake. Measuring an enormous 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake has demolished many buildings in capital Kathmandu, as well as damaging roads and other infrastructure. This was followed by a series of aftershocks, one of which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale. World Highways correspondent Ram Krishna Wagle reports that with many road links to other towns severely damaged, this is hampering the relief eff
April 30, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Reports from Nepal highlight the devastation the country has suffered due to its recent massive earthquake. Measuring an enormous 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake has demolished many buildings in capital Kathmandu, as well as damaging roads and other infrastructure. This was followed by a series of aftershocks, one of which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale.

3260 World Highways correspondent Ram Krishna Wagle reports that with many road links to other towns severely damaged, this is hampering the relief efforts right across the country. In some instances, only helicopters can be used to access the country’s more remote areas, but flights have been limited due to poor weather.
The photos show the damage to the Kathmandu Ringroad - Airport section and also the Kathmandu-Bhaktapur Road Section.

The fatality rate arising from the earthquake has now topped 5,500 while a further 11,000 are known to have been seriously injured. But with remote villages in many of the worst affected areas still to be contacted, the toll of dead and injured is almost certainly likely to climb higher. Aid is being provided from neighbouring China and India, as well as from Europe and the US, but considerably more international assistance is required. Equipment manufacturer 255 JCB has supplied a number of backhoe loaders and generators to aid in the rescue work but far more heavy equipment is required.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 2-4 year-old construction equipment tops buyer ‘wish list’
    May 11, 2012
    A leading used construction equipment auctioneer firm boss believes equipment aged between 2 and 4 years is now topping buyers’ ‘wish lists’, as 1 to 2-year-old used stocks deplete. Jonnie Keys, General Manager of Euro Auctions, said that with the cost of new equipment currently up by around 20% on prices in June 2009, the used market is still strong. “Euro Auctions has repeatedly seen over 30% of all plant sold leaving the UK and Europe for projects in Australia, South Africa, South America, Central Ameri
  • Safety gains on Europe’s roads with lower KSI rates
    February 19, 2014
    Better road safety is helping to cut KSI rates right across the EC - Mike Woof writes Road safety continues to improve in Europe, with official statistics for 2012 showing a drop in fatalities of 2,661 compared with the figures for 2011. The latest data from Pan-European police body TISPOL shows an encouraging trend towards better road safety. This highlights safety improvements right across the EU. In 2012, a total of 27,700 people were killed in road crashes in the European Union’s 27 member states, eq
  • The financial cost of crashes in the US
    February 1, 2023
    The financial cost of road crashes in the US places a heavy burden.
  • Safety barriers improve highway safety
    July 3, 2012
    Highway safety could yet improve using available technology more widely Safety barriers still offer huge opportunities to improve accident statistics worldwide. There is a wide array of products on the market to suit all types of installation and with a diverse range of solutions for each application. Highway authorities have been installing barriers for many years now and the technology continues to improve, however an analysis of accident statistics shows that barriers offer further potential. Details fr