Earthquakes Nepal Himalaya (Rukum and Rolpo districts) – 2 more earthquakes (aftershocks)

Last update: August 24, 2012 at 8:21 am by By

Earthquake overview : Just after 10 PM (22:00), a moderate M5.0 earthquake struck near Thawang village in the Rolpa area (Western Nepal). The epicenter is located at the foothills of the Himalaya
Tell us when you think you have felt this earthquake.
Nepal-only earthquake list

Keep this page open to read more details when they become available
- Most recent information on top – Start of the article at the bottom

Update 24/08 – 08:09 UTC : International seismological agencies are listing a huge number of earthquakes worldwide but unfortunately not enough to have a good picture of what is going on in the world. Developing nations press are often citing USGS as a certainty in the world of earthquakes and are that way diminishing the value of their own specialist agencies. Nepal is a good example. The Nepal National seismological Center has a fine network of seismographs, GPS stations and accelerometers. Data captures close to the epicenter is (mostly) more accurate than data captured at a greater distance. From the 4 earthquakes reported by the NSC, only 2 were reported by EMSC and USGS. The Magnitude differs so much in between local and international agencies (M5.6 vs M5.0 yesterday and M5.2 vs M4.4 earlier today for the 2 strongest shakes). Difference in scales cannot give this big difference in Magnitude Mb vs Ml.

Update 24/08 – 07:14 UTC : The Nepal National Seismological Center has updated the earthquake data and reports now a M4.4 as the new value for the initial M4.7. The M5.6 mainshock stands.
8 hours later an M4.4 occurred (00:17 UTC) and at 03:55 UTC the sequence was followed by another M5.2 earthquake, all in the same area.
The Nepalese press gives little attention to the earthquake and states only that there are no reports of damage or injuries. If the Nepalese data are correct, we do  not trust this general remark. Both the M5.6 and M5.2 are relatively strong earthquakes in mountainous areas and both M4.4 can be seen as moderate. We will follow this up and bring you further news if it reaches us.
We also make a request to our Nepali readers to report any news which they may find in the local or regional press.

Official earthquake data - courtesy Nepal National Seismological Center

Update 20:53 UTC : After a sluggish start, the monsoon’s active phase, observed in the last 24 hours, brought brief heavy downpours in most of the Western and Central regions of the country. This is bad news for earthquake shaking

Update 20:44 UTC : Today’s earthquake is not the first one in the area this year, as 3 earthquakes measuring M5.0, M4.8 and M4.2 occurred on July 31. No news of eventual damage or injuries was found for these earthquakes.

Update 20:42 UTC : The nearthquake was felt in many districts in Nepal like Kathmandu, Gorkha, Chitwan, Kaski, Dailekh, Parbat, Tanahun, and Syangja.

Update 18:35 UTC : Musikot, the village on the picture below is very close to the epicenter. The image is not taking away our fears.

Very Important Update 18:13 UTC : The Nepal National Seismological Center reports that not 1 but 2 earthquakes have rattled the mid-western Nepal area. The first one being a M5.6 earthquake at 10:15 PM local time (16:15 UTC) and a second M4.7 one at 10:27 PM (16:27 UTC) !!

Rukum Musikot courtesy Tubal Sapkota -

Update : EMSC has now changed the location of the epicenter after recalculation. The village of Thawang (Rolpa area) – see image below), should be very close to the epicenter following these data. The Geofon location has not been recalculated (automatic data) and remains at the moment in the high Himalaya.

Update : Based on the landslide risk, earthquake-report.com calls this earthquake as moderately dangerous

Update 17:29 UTC : Earthquake data is very preliminary at the moment. The USGS data are less dangerous than the EMSC or the Geofon data due to the depth of 38 km. EMSC and Geofon are holding to their 10 km (the shallower and earthquake is, the more dangerous it becomes).

Update : Earthquake-Report.com fears for a deadly cocktail of moderate shaking in combination with saturated ground layers of the monsoon rains. Lets hope that eventual landslides are not in or near villages.  People will mostly be in the village or sleeping at the time of the occurrence.

Update 17:24 UTC : Very weak shaking is normal in Kathmandu as the Nepali capital is 270 km away from the epicenter.

Thawang village following some agencies near the epicenter - Image courtesy PranjalDahal

Update : As it is dark right now and as the epicenter area is very remote we do not expect to receive any detailed news for another 24 hours unless mobile telecommunications are active in the Dolpo villages.

Update : The best known area in this part of Nepal, where following some agencies the epicenter would be is the Dolpo area? The most famous 8000+ mountain in the area is the Dhaulagiri. Dhaulagiri is a regular target for expeditions. As it is late monsoon at the moment, mountaineering will be at lowest. Distance from Dhaulagiri to the epicenter is approx. 20 km

Update : This earthquake has not been listed yet in the website of the Nepal National Seismological center, who should have definitely the best data as their instruments are installed the closest to the epicenter

Update : The epicenter location is still unsure as every seismological agency is referring to a different area which is in case of Nepal very tricky. USGS is putting the epicenter in the foothills. Geofon at the base of the high Himalaya and EMSC in the high Himalaya.

Update : USGS is confirming the Magnitude of M5.0 however at a less dangerous deeper depth of 38.3 km.

Based on the number of visitors in our site, we see a moderate earthquake in Nepal.
Please tell us by the form how the shaking was experienced.
Based on our preliminary findings, we expect a Magnitude in between M4.5 and M5.0
Preliminary epicenter is located in the western part of the Nepali Himalaya (West of Annapurna)
If people residing in Pokhara are reading this page, please let us know how the shaking was experienced.
A M5.1 is a moderate shaking but can create in the high mountains some serious avalanches/landslides of rock, snow, ice or even mud.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M5.0 (USGS) – M5.1 (EMSC)
UTC Time : Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 16:30:23 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10:15:23 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 38 km (USGS) – 10 km (EMSC)
Geo-location(s) (USGS data):
101 km (63 miles) SSE (149°) from Jumla, Nepal
117 km (72 miles) ENE (64°) from Nepalganj, Nepal
128 km (80 miles) WNW (284°) from Pokhara, Nepal
272 km (169 miles) WNW (290°) from KATHMANDU, Nepal

Links to important maps
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area (USGS)
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area (EMSC)
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area (Geofon)
Historic earthquakes map
Seismic hazard map

Click here for examples of our “earthquake notifications (button below)”

SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFORMATION
USGS Nepal Aug 23 16:30 PM 5.0 38 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Nepal Aug 23 16:30 PM 5.0 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Nepal Aug 23 16:30 PM 4.6 10 MAP I Felt It
ER Nepal (emsc Preliminary Data) Aug 23 16:30 PM 5.1 10 MAP I Felt It
  • Kathmandu - I felt some shaking
  • Surkhet, Nepal - Moderate shaking here in Surkhet
  • NEPAL - Light shaking
  • kathmandu - Light shaking
  • Kathmandu - Very weak shaking in Kathmandu
  • Kathmandu - very light shaking here in kathmandu
  • Pokhara - Moderate MMI V shaking here in Pokhara
  • NEPAL - didn't experienced anything like that.....
  • Kathmandu - I felt it too it was like light shaking but noticable
  • Kathmandu-33 - Mild tremors
  • Noida - I felt at 10:05 PM today
  • Kathmandu - Very weak shaking
  • Pokhara - I felt a mild shake as if it was like when my doggy jumps over the bed. Not serious but felt somewhat Oh! That was a Earthquake.
  • Nepal - last night earthquake passed very light ans slow but the moment was too terrible near syangja
  • Pokhara - I felt light shaking at 10:15 PM. I was in bed at that time. I had also noticed that water in bottles was also shaking.
    		•

    a

    QuakeSOS+     and QuakeSOS free are iPhone applications developed by Armand Vervaeck, the founder of Earthquake Report. The Application simplifies immediate group communication to friends and family members (with your exact GPS location) and is feeding the users with Earthquake Report news. The 0.99 US$ QuakeSOS+ version will support the activities of SOS Earthquakes.

    a

    Earthquake-Report.com headlines on twitter
    @OnlyQuakeNews : Get all the headlines of our earthquake-report.com articles + regular updates on ongoing events
    @QuakeSOS : earthquake-report.com news + automatic earthquake notifications of USGS earthquakes of M 4.0 or higher with emphasis to earthquakes in the America’s and the Pacific Ocean sphere (4 and up) and a lot of the rest of the world (5 and up). This account was created for our QuakeSOS and QuakeSOS+ iPhone applications
    @ShakingEarth : earthquake-report.com news + automatic earthquake notifications of EMSC earthquakes of M 4.0 or higher with emphasis to earthquakes in European and Asian / Middle East sphere (4 and up) and a lot of the rest of the world (5 and up). This account was originally created to stimulate our Facebook account
    @QuakeMaps : earthquake-report.com news with mapping notifications of ALL earthquakes M 3.0 and higher from all over the world via EMSC and USGS. This account was created for our http://www.quake-maps.com website

    SHARE YOUR EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE WITH US

    Enter Email (not compulsory)
    City/Village where you felt the earthquake
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    Write your experience and/or additional text here (max. 500 characters)

    Speak Your Mind

    *