Nepal Hit by New Earthquake, Killing 32
KATHMANDU, Nepal, May 12 (UPI) — A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on Tuesday, just weeks after another earthquake devastated parts of the nation and killed more than 8,000 people.
At least 32 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured in the town of Chautara by the latest earthquake. A 6.3-magnitude aftershock shortly followed Tuesday’s quake.
The earthquakes occurred about 50 miles east of Kathmandu, the country’s capital.
“The… 7.3 Nepal earthquake… occurred as the result of thrust faulting on or near the [basal detachment fault] associated with the Main Himalayan Thrust, which defines the interface between the underthrusting India plate and the overriding Eurasia plate to the north,” the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The latest quake struck at a depth of nine miles. Nepal is still recovering from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck central Nepal on April 25, leading to thousands of deaths and 17,000 injured. The effects of the latest earthquake were felt in Kathmandu, but there was no report of significant damage there.
The Save the Children charity said teams were assessing the impact on buildings that had already been damaged.
“It’s a terrifying time for the hundreds of thousands of children and families who lost everything in the 25 April quake,” the charity told USA Today.
