Top 10 Biggest Seismic Earthquake In Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-28
Top 10 Biggest Seismic Earthquake In Nepal

Nepal has a lengthy history of earthquakes due to its location in one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country's first known earthquake occurred on June 7, 1255, under the reign of King Abhaya Malla. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed the monarch and wiped out a third of Kathmandu's population at the time. Since then, Nepal has seen at least one major earthquake per century. In this article, we have listed the top 10 biggest seismic earthquakes in Nepal.

*The ranking is done based on research done by The Everest List with the help of the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center.

10. 1916 BS Nepal-Tibet Earthquake

1916 BS Nepal-Tibet Earthquake
Image Source: nepalitimes.com

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Nepal-Tibet border in the north of Nepal in 1916 BS, with the epicentre at Mt Api in western Nepal. Darchula and Indian Kumaon suffered severe damage. This earthquake took the lives of 3500 people.

  • Date : 8/28/1916
  • Time : 6:39:00 AM
  • Deaths : 3500
  • Magnitude : 7.7

9. 2015 BS Gorkha Earthquake

2015 BS Gorkha Earthquake
Image Source: www.britannica.com

The Gorkha Earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, with a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicentre was roughly 76 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. There were more than 300 aftershocks. Roughly 9,000 people were murdered, with approximately 55% of those dead being women, and over 100,000 people were injured. In total, eight million people have been affected, accounting for about one-third of Nepal's population.

  • Date : 4/25/2015
  • Time : 11:56:00 AM
  • Deaths : 8857
  • Magnitude : 7.8

8. 1255 BS Kathmandu Earthquake

1255 BS Kathmandu Earthquake
Image Source: hyperleap.com

The country's first known earthquake occurred on June 7, 1255, under the reign of King Abhaya Malla. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed the monarch and wiped out a third of Kathmandu's population at the time. This earthquake claimed the lives of around 2200 people.

  • Date : 1255-07-07
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 2200
  • Magnitude : 7.8

7. 1767 BS Northern Bagmati Zone Earthquake

1767 BS Northern Bagmati Zone Earthquake
Image Source: mid-day.com

Another large earthquake seemed to have struck Nepal in the months of June and July 1767 AD. This earthquake is claimed to have caused twenty-one shocks and aftershocks in twenty-four hours. The earthquake was of 7.9 magnitudes and 4500 had lost their life in this earthquake.

  • Date : 1767-07
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 4000
  • Magnitude : 7.9

6. 1344 BS Mechi Earthquake

1344 BS Mechi Earthquake
Image Source: pukarjoshi.com.np

In 1344 BS, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.9 struck Nepal's mechi area. Approximately 100 people were killed in this earthquake. The time of the earthquake is unknown.

  • Date : 1344
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 100
  • Magnitude : 7.9

5. 1934 BS Nepal–India Earthquake

1934 BS Nepal–India Earthquake
Image Source: onlinekhabar

The 1934 Nepal-India earthquake, also known as the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake, was one of the deadliest in Indian history. This 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck northern Bihar and Nepal on 15 January 1934 at about 2:13 pm IST (08:43 UTC) and caused severe damage. This event's epicentre occurred in eastern Nepal, around 9.5 kilometres (5.9 miles) south of Mount Everest. The areas with the greatest loss of life and property ranged from Purnea in the east to Champaran in the west (a span of roughly 320 km or 200 mi), and from Kathmandu in the north to Munger in the south (a distance of nearly 465 km or 289 mi).

  • Date : 1/15/1934
  • Time : 8:43:00 AM
  • Deaths : 10,700–12,000
  • Magnitude : 8

4. 1833 BS Nepal–Bihar Earthquake

1833 BS Nepal–Bihar Earthquake
Image Source: nepali.net

On August 26, 1833, at 22:58 local time, the Nepal-India earthquake occurred (NPT). The epicentre of this earthquake was located in or around the Kathmandu Valley and had an estimated moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.6-7.9. The earthquake devastated a number of towns and villages in Nepal, northern India, and Tibet. Despite the magnitude of the devastation, the number of fatalities from the earthquake was relatively low, at around 500. This was due to two smaller but severe foreshocks earlier that day, which caused many inhabitants to seek protection outside their houses.

  • Date : 1833-08-26
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 6500
  • Magnitude : 8

3. 1681 BS Northern Koshi Zone

1681 BS Northern Koshi Zone
Image Source: Wikipedia

Another large earthquake seemed to have struck Nepal in the months of June and July 1767 AD. This earthquake is claimed to have caused twenty-one shocks and aftershocks in twenty-four hours. The earthquake was of 7.9 magnitudes and 4500 lost their lives in this earthquake.

  • Date : 1681-01
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 4,500
  • Magnitude : 8

2. 1408 BS Nepal- Tibet Border

1408 BS Nepal- Tibet Border
Image Source: thelandofsnows

This is the second major earthquake reported after 1344AD, during the reign of King Shyam Singh. The earthquake of 1408 AD is said to have destroyed Patan's Machhendra Nath temple. The earthquake struck near the Nepal-Tibet border, in the Bagmati Zone. The magnitude of the quake was 8.2 on the Richter scale, and 2500 people were killed.

  • Date : 1408-08
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 2,500
  • Magnitude : 8.2

1. 1505 BS Lo Mustang Earthquake

1505 BS Lo Mustang Earthquake
Image Source: behance.net

The 1505 Lo Mustang earthquake struck on June 6, 1505, with an estimated magnitude of 8.2 to 8.8. It was one of the greatest earthquakes in Nepalese history. The earthquake killed over 30% of Nepal's population at the time. The earthquake struck northern Nepal, affecting southern China and northern India.

  • Date : 1505-06-06
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 6,000
  • Magnitude : 8.9

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10. 1916 BS Nepal-Tibet Earthquake

1916 BS Nepal-Tibet Earthquake
Image Source: nepalitimes.com

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Nepal-Tibet border in the north of Nepal in 1916 BS, with the epicentre at Mt Api in western Nepal. Darchula and Indian Kumaon suffered severe damage. This earthquake took the lives of 3500 people.

  • Date : 8/28/1916
  • Time : 6:39:00 AM
  • Deaths : 3500
  • Magnitude : 7.7

9. 2015 BS Gorkha Earthquake

2015 BS Gorkha Earthquake
Image Source: www.britannica.com

The Gorkha Earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, with a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicentre was roughly 76 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. There were more than 300 aftershocks. Roughly 9,000 people were murdered, with approximately 55% of those dead being women, and over 100,000 people were injured. In total, eight million people have been affected, accounting for about one-third of Nepal's population.

  • Date : 4/25/2015
  • Time : 11:56:00 AM
  • Deaths : 8857
  • Magnitude : 7.8

8. 1255 BS Kathmandu Earthquake

1255 BS Kathmandu Earthquake
Image Source: hyperleap.com

The country's first known earthquake occurred on June 7, 1255, under the reign of King Abhaya Malla. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed the monarch and wiped out a third of Kathmandu's population at the time. This earthquake claimed the lives of around 2200 people.

  • Date : 1255-07-07
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 2200
  • Magnitude : 7.8

7. 1767 BS Northern Bagmati Zone Earthquake

1767 BS Northern Bagmati Zone Earthquake
Image Source: mid-day.com

Another large earthquake seemed to have struck Nepal in the months of June and July 1767 AD. This earthquake is claimed to have caused twenty-one shocks and aftershocks in twenty-four hours. The earthquake was of 7.9 magnitudes and 4500 had lost their life in this earthquake.

  • Date : 1767-07
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 4000
  • Magnitude : 7.9

6. 1344 BS Mechi Earthquake

1344 BS Mechi Earthquake
Image Source: pukarjoshi.com.np

In 1344 BS, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.9 struck Nepal's mechi area. Approximately 100 people were killed in this earthquake. The time of the earthquake is unknown.

  • Date : 1344
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 100
  • Magnitude : 7.9

5. 1934 BS Nepal–India Earthquake

1934 BS Nepal–India Earthquake
Image Source: onlinekhabar

The 1934 Nepal-India earthquake, also known as the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake, was one of the deadliest in Indian history. This 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck northern Bihar and Nepal on 15 January 1934 at about 2:13 pm IST (08:43 UTC) and caused severe damage. This event's epicentre occurred in eastern Nepal, around 9.5 kilometres (5.9 miles) south of Mount Everest. The areas with the greatest loss of life and property ranged from Purnea in the east to Champaran in the west (a span of roughly 320 km or 200 mi), and from Kathmandu in the north to Munger in the south (a distance of nearly 465 km or 289 mi).

  • Date : 1/15/1934
  • Time : 8:43:00 AM
  • Deaths : 10,700–12,000
  • Magnitude : 8

4. 1833 BS Nepal–Bihar Earthquake

1833 BS Nepal–Bihar Earthquake
Image Source: nepali.net

On August 26, 1833, at 22:58 local time, the Nepal-India earthquake occurred (NPT). The epicentre of this earthquake was located in or around the Kathmandu Valley and had an estimated moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.6-7.9. The earthquake devastated a number of towns and villages in Nepal, northern India, and Tibet. Despite the magnitude of the devastation, the number of fatalities from the earthquake was relatively low, at around 500. This was due to two smaller but severe foreshocks earlier that day, which caused many inhabitants to seek protection outside their houses.

  • Date : 1833-08-26
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 6500
  • Magnitude : 8

3. 1681 BS Northern Koshi Zone

1681 BS Northern Koshi Zone
Image Source: Wikipedia

Another large earthquake seemed to have struck Nepal in the months of June and July 1767 AD. This earthquake is claimed to have caused twenty-one shocks and aftershocks in twenty-four hours. The earthquake was of 7.9 magnitudes and 4500 lost their lives in this earthquake.

  • Date : 1681-01
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 4,500
  • Magnitude : 8

2. 1408 BS Nepal- Tibet Border

1408 BS Nepal- Tibet Border
Image Source: thelandofsnows

This is the second major earthquake reported after 1344AD, during the reign of King Shyam Singh. The earthquake of 1408 AD is said to have destroyed Patan's Machhendra Nath temple. The earthquake struck near the Nepal-Tibet border, in the Bagmati Zone. The magnitude of the quake was 8.2 on the Richter scale, and 2500 people were killed.

  • Date : 1408-08
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 2,500
  • Magnitude : 8.2

1. 1505 BS Lo Mustang Earthquake

1505 BS Lo Mustang Earthquake
Image Source: behance.net

The 1505 Lo Mustang earthquake struck on June 6, 1505, with an estimated magnitude of 8.2 to 8.8. It was one of the greatest earthquakes in Nepalese history. The earthquake killed over 30% of Nepal's population at the time. The earthquake struck northern Nepal, affecting southern China and northern India.

  • Date : 1505-06-06
  • Time : Unknown
  • Deaths : 6,000
  • Magnitude : 8.9

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