Question 1

Can earthquakes be predicted?

Accepted Answer

No. No person, app or animal can tell you the day, time, place or size of a future earthquake. Science can estimate long-term hazard, not exact forecasts.

Question 2

Why does Nepal have so many earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Nepal sits where the Indian tectonic plate pushes beneath the Eurasian plate, raising the Himalaya about 2 cm a year and storing enormous energy in faults beneath the country.

Question 3

What should I do during an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Drop to your hands and knees, take Cover under a sturdy table protecting your head and neck, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Do not run outside while it shakes, and never use lifts.

Question 4

What are Nepal's emergency numbers?

Accepted Answer

Police 100, Ambulance 102, Fire 101, National Emergency Operation Centre 1149 — all toll-free, 24/7.

Question 5

How long do aftershocks last?

Accepted Answer

Aftershocks fade over days to months. After a large quake, expect felt aftershocks for weeks — each time: Drop, Cover, Hold On, and stay clear of damaged buildings.

Question 6

Is a bigger earthquake coming to Nepal?

Accepted Answer

No one can say when. Western Nepal has not had a great rupture since 1505 and strain is accumulating, which is why preparedness — not prediction — is the reliable protection.

Earthquake questions, answered

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