Does an earthquake deeply impact mental health?

KATHMANDU: An early morning earthquake on Tuesday jolted people awake, forcing them out of their homes despite the cold weather.

Streets and alleys filled with people—some clutching children in their arms, others assisting the elderly to safety. The tremors also disrupted morning college classes, leading to chaos among students.

The quake impacted Tribhuvan University’s undergraduate exams, causing a 15-minute delay in the morning session.

Measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, the earthquake struck at 6:50 AM with its epicenter in Dinggy Village, Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet, China. The tremors were strongly felt in Nepal’s Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati provinces.

Tuesday’s quake reminded many of the devastating 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which claimed over 8,000 lives and caused billions of rupees in damage.

In Kathmandu’s Nagarjun-10, a resident, Rikesh Thapa, jumped from his rooftop in panic, sustaining injuries. He was rushed to Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences for treatment, police confirmed. In Bara’s Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan City, 11 students from grades 7 and 8 at Trichandra Secondary School fainted due to shock.

Dr. Basudev Karki, a senior psychiatrist at Patan Mental Hospital, highlighted the lingering psychological impacts of past major earthquakes. “The 2015 Gorkha quake and last year’s Jajarkot earthquake have left people emotionally vulnerable. Even minor tremors now cause heightened anxiety and panic,” he explained.

Dr. Karki emphasized that disasters like earthquakes not only cause physical damage but also deeply affect mental health. “Such events trigger psychological fear, especially among those who have previously experienced them,” he said. “The fear of another earthquake can lead to chronic anxiety and stress.”

Responses to disasters vary from person to person, depending on individual biological and environmental factors, Karki noted. He called for proactive measures to enhance public awareness about disaster preparedness and stress management. “The government should focus on promoting positive thinking and educating the public on earthquake risk management,” he added.

The earthquake serves as a grim reminder of the need for disaster preparedness and the importance of addressing mental health concerns in the aftermath of natural calamities.

Avoid Spreading Unnecessary Panic

Dr. Lokvijay Adhikari, a senior seismologist at the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center under the Department of Mines and Geology, has urged against spreading misleading messages that create unnecessary fear about earthquakes. “Panic during an earthquake, such as running or jumping, can lead to accidents. It’s crucial to remain calm,” he said.

He further emphasized, “False messages on social media claiming an imminent major earthquake only increase anxiety among people. Such messages should not be shared. It is not possible to predict earthquakes.” He advised people to rely only on official information.

Need for Preparedness and Awareness

Dr. Adhikari stressed the importance of increasing awareness about what to do during an earthquake, how to stay calm, and the methods to ensure safety.

He highlighted the need for preparedness to minimize the potential loss of life and property caused by earthquakes. Prioritizing the development of an early warning system, he called for greater focus on disaster preparedness.

Director General Kamalram Joshi of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology noted that earthquake early warning systems have not yet been developed and emphasized the need for further research in this field. He also mentioned the increased risk of glacial lake outbursts following earthquakes in China. “If risks like glacial lake outbursts are identified due to earthquakes, we will issue alerts to ensure safety. I urge everyone to trust only official information,” Joshi said.

Dr. Dijan Bhattarai, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, stated that aftershocks of the recent earthquake are ongoing, and more may occur. He urged everyone to remain prepared and vigilant for potential risks. He emphasized the need for calm and effective disaster management.

Why Do Earthquakes Happen?

Earthquakes occur when vibrations within the Earth’s surface are felt. Stress builds up in the Earth’s interior due to surface movement, leading to an imbalance that releases energy and causes the ground to shake.

This shaking, known as an earthquake, is triggered by movements of the Earth’s outer crust, or lithosphere, which is divided into large segments called tectonic plates. These plates collide with each other, generating earthquakes.

According to the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center, earthquakes are a geological process that cannot be prevented or predicted based on current research.

They are caused by interactions and conflicts between tectonic plates. While minor earthquakes occur daily, they fail to release sufficient accumulated energy, leading to occasional larger and more destructive earthquakes.

“Major earthquakes have occurred in the Himalayan region in the past,” the center noted. “The intercontinental great earthquakes include the Assam earthquake of 1897, the Kangra earthquake of 1905, the Nepal-India border earthquake of 1934, and the Assam earthquake of 1950.”

The Nepal Himalayas, covering about 800 kilometers (one-third) of the roughly 2,500-kilometer-long active Himalayan range stretching from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar (Burma) in the east, is highly vulnerable to seismic risks.

The center attributed this to tectonic plate collisions, energy accumulation, and periodic release through destructive earthquakes.

Death toll on Tuesday’s earthquake

The earthquake resulted in at least 126 fatalities and 188 injuries in Tibet. In Nepal, 13 people were injured, including 11 in Bara, and one each from Kavrepalanchowk and Kathmandu.

Two homes were destroyed, and 12 others and a police station were damaged across the country.

The quake caused significant structural damage, with more than 1,000 homes collapsing in Tingri County, Tibet.

Additionally, five sections of national and provincial roads were damaged by landslides, collapses, and subsidence.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with over 1,500 teams deployed to the affected regions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for exhaustive efforts to save lives, prevent secondary disasters, and ensure the well-being of displaced residents.

The earthquake’s impact extended beyond Tibet, with tremors felt in parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

In Nepal, minor damages were reported, and the event has revived memories of the devastating 2015 earthquake.