An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 devastated villages in Nepal struck shortly before noon Saturday, and one UW RSO held a vigil in response to the event.
Friends of Nepal at the University of Wyoming organized a vigil Monday afternoon, in Simpson’s Plaza, to remember the lost lives and villages suffering. Several gathered holding lit candlesticks and prayed for Nepal.
“I am here to give condolences and remembrance to the victims who died during the earthquake,” Prapti Giri, a PHD student studying civil engineering, said.
Giri said her family is safe, but have spent three days outside of their house in the rain. “It’s quite a difficult time for them,” Giri said.
“This is unpreventable because Nepal rests on a thrust fault, and India is crashing into Eurasia,” Maneesh Dhakal, a geology student said.
The “Continental Collision,” as the Wall Street Journal describes it, happens when the Indian subcontinent pushes against Eurasia, and the pressure results in an earthquake. The crashing of the two plates forms the Himalayan mountain range.
Most homes are not prepared for the impacts of a high magnitude earthquake.
“Every 50 to 70 years, an earthquake happens. But this one was late,” Dhakal said.
Educational programs are organized throughout Nepal to educate citizens about earthquakes, but because of economic situations, citizens do not live in sturdy homes in earthquake prone zones.
“Economic wise, we are unable to have good infrastructure,” Dhakal said.
Concrete and reinforced buildings are the safest in the event of an earthquake, Giri said. “The houses that are in the earth quake prone zone should be designed accordingly; earth quake resistant. The problem in Nepal is the houses aren’t strong,” Giri said.
Dhakal said the earthquake, and Nepal’s geological situation, are a motivation.
“Nepal is the reason why I am studying geology, Dhakal said.
Donations are being accepted by the Friends of Nepal at www.gofundme.com/t9s6nmg8 or contact FNUW president Govind Sah at gsah@uwyo.edu
