When the Earth Shook: Memories of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake
“When the earth shook, we were just sitting there drinking coffee. We grabbed our cups and ran quickly out of the house. It took a few hours before we realized what had just happened,” reports Thomas Meier, who works for humedica’s Nepalese partner organization, HDCS.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in late April 2015 was the strongest in 70 years. “Only the elderly had ever experienced what it feels like and the damage it causes. That’s why the disaster caught the Nepalese off guard,” reports Meier. Nearly 8,000 people died—and the number of injured ran into the tens of thousands. The earthquake is considered the deadliest disaster ever to strike Nepal. humedica was on the ground at the time with several response teams.
Natural Disasters in Nepal: Everyday Life for Many People
Yet the Nepalese are quite accustomed to natural disasters. Due to climate change and the country’s location right in the Himalayas, landslides and floods occur time and again. “For the people of Nepal, it’s normal to be at the mercy of nature’s whims,” explains Thomas Meier. He observes: “If a path is buried by a landslide somewhere, a new one soon emerges around that spot. Even after a flood, they quickly get back to business as usual.” Yet for many Nepalis, these frequent natural disasters threaten their very livelihoods. “Most people in rural areas are poor and depend on what they grow as small-scale farmers. If the harvest is lost, they have no income left,” explains Thomas Meier.
"We collect data that we can use to predict flood events. We also provide people with the knowledge they need to help themselves in the event of a disaster."
Prevention Saves Lives: How Training and Emergency Plans Make a Difference
That is why his organization helps people prepare for natural disasters. “On the one hand, we identify which areas are particularly prone to flooding. We collect data that we can use to predict flood events. On the other hand, we equip people with the knowledge they need to help themselves in the event of a disaster. This is done, for example, through specialized training—such as first aid—and the development of appropriate emergency plans,” explains Thomas Meier. During an earthquake in the fall of 2023, these emergency plans helped keep the number of casualties relatively low following the earthquake in the western part of the country. “With support from humedica, we had just equipped the local hospital with the necessary equipment and worked with the doctors to develop emergency plans for such situations. This enabled us to provide good care for the injured,” recalls Meier.
He knows: “The earthquake 10 years ago caused many people in Nepal to rethink their approach. Instead of simply accepting disasters, more and more people want to take steps to mitigate their consequences.”
