1988 Nepal earthquake
| Epicentre of earthquake | |
| UTC time | 1988-08-20 23:09:09 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 429573 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | August 21, 1988 |
| Local time | 04:39:11 NST |
| Magnitude | 6.9 Mw |
| Depth | 57.4 km (35.7 mi) |
| Epicenter | 26°45′18″N 86°36′58″E / 26.755°N 86.616°E |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 1,003 deaths, 9,979 injuries |
The 1988 Nepal earthquake occurred near the Nepal–India border on 20 August 1988 at 23:09:09 UTC. The epicenter was located in Udayapur District. Measuring Mw 6.9, it was the largest earthquake recorded in the country since 1934.
The death toll in Nepal and Bihar stood at 1,003. This was worsened by hillside erosion, landslide and floods, which increased the death toll by almost 300. There was significant damage to buildings and infrastructure including schools and hospitals, which left up to half a million people homeless, which had a significant impact of health and desolated the economy. This led to overcrowding and a lack of sanitation, which contributed to health conditions. Local and international response relief efforts were hindered by the heavy monsoon, mountainous terrain, infrastructure damage, lack of helicopters and uncoordinated response.