Thousands of people lost their lives and thousands more were injured in an earthquake of Mw 7.8 on April 25, 2015 (local time 11:56 a.m.). Among the worst hit districts were Sindhupalchok - where more than 2,000 died. In the capital, Kathmandu, more than 1,000 perished.
Thousands more were badly injured by falling debris caused by the quake or powerful aftershocks that rocked the region- including one that measured 7.3 on 12 May. One of the worst disasters of the decade, the earthquake shook the foundation of Nepal. Nepal’s government had then estimated the cost of recovery at over $6.6 billion, equivalent to one third of its gross domestic product.
The earthquake produced landslides that devastated rural villages and some of the most densely populated parts of the city of Kathmandu. According to UNESCO, more than 30 monuments in the Kathmandu Valley collapsed in the quakes, and another 120 incurred partial damage.
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