To what extent was the level of economic development the

most influential factor in increasing the vulnerability of

Nepal to the 2015 earthquake?

When an earthquake struck Nepal in 2015, the country was extremely vulnerable and the
effects were devastating. Many died and others lost their loved ones or sources of income.
Rubble covered the landscape and roads and over half a million people were left homeless.

One factor that affected Nepal's vulnerability was its economic development. Affected areas
had little to no earthquake protection because buildings were poorly constructed and easily
destroyed; lacking proper supports or foundations. The falling buildings in turn made the
earthquake much more deadly, with people crushed under rubble. Many people's jobs and
livelihoods had been vulnerable even before the tremors, relying on the land for farming or the
paths to travel to work. When the quake hit and destroyed roads and land, these jobs became
inaccessible. Additionally, local disaster relief and the general population were unable to
recover properly due to a lack of resources, leaving Nepal to rely on international aid that took
longer to arrive.

Another factor affecting Nepal's vulnerability was its environment. In many places, the terrain
made it difficult or impossible to provide aid to those who needed it- in mountainous or hilly
areas, there was an increased risk of landslides and avalanches, which caused further damage
to land and buildings. An avalanche on the south slopes of Everest destroyed a camp at its base,
where hundreds of climbers were staying. The rubble and debris from the land and buildings
everywhere only made providing aid to those who needed it more difficult. Another reason for
the earthquake's devastating effects was because Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu, lies in a
sedimentary basin of a former lake. During the shaking of the quake, the roughly 2000 feet of
sediment amplified the shaking of the ground and, by extension, the destruction.

A final set of reasons Nepal was vulnerable is social factors. For example, Nepal's corrupt
government ignored the people's situation, specifically in further out areas, and did not send
any aid. The government has long overlooked rural areas, so when the earthquake came many
districts were hugely underprepared. Furthermore, Nepal has a very high population density,
meaning that more people were affected than would otherwise be at a lower population
density.
In conclusion, while there were other reasons for Nepal's vulnerability in 2015, such as
precarious geology and a corrupt government, economic development was the main factor for
the earthquake's severity to a great extent. Another point to note is that scientists had
expected this earthquake for years, except when the time came, Nepal was still underprepared-
mainly because of its low economic development.