2015 Nepal Earthquake: Timeline and Preparedness Lessons
A selected USGS timeline of the 2015 Nepal earthquake sequence, followed by practical family earthquake-preparedness lessons from Ready.gov.
Last updated September 2026
Contents9
The 2015 Nepal earthquake sequence began with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 25 April. USGS recorded further large earthquakes that day, on 26 April and on 12 May. These dates show why a household plan needs to work through repeated shaking and disrupted services.
Nepal earthquake 2015 timeline
| Date and time (UTC) | Magnitude | Location and source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 2015, 06:11:25 | 7.8 | 67 km NNE of Bharatpur. USGS us20002926 |
| 25 Apr 2015, 06:45:21 | 6.6 | 71 km NNE of Bharatpur. USGS us2000292y |
| 26 Apr 2015, 07:09:10 | 6.7 | 21 km SSE of Kodari. USGS us200029bt |
| 12 May 2015, 07:05:19 | 7.3 | Nepal. USGS us20002ejl |
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UTC is Coordinated Universal Time. The linked USGS records give the time and location of each earthquake.
What the records show
USGS gives the 25 April mainshock a depth of 8.22 kilometres. Its magnitude 6.6 record followed about 34 minutes later. The magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred the next day, and the magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurred on 12 May.
A plan needs to cover both the first response and the days that follow. Keep meeting places, contact information and supplies available while you follow local instructions about damaged buildings and roads.
What USGS documented about the impact
USGS’s Nepal earthquake review describes damage to homes and a large humanitarian impact. Scientists studied the earthquake and its aftershocks to understand the movement of the fault and the effects of shaking.
Nepal earthquake 2015 preparedness lessons
Ready.gov’s earthquake guidance recommends a family communication plan, meeting places and supplies. Choose an outside contact and agree on how everyone will check in. Include children, pets and anyone who needs help moving or communicating.
Secure tall furniture and put heavy or breakable items on low shelves. Check bedrooms and the places where people spend time. Keep drinking water, medicines, a light and a way to receive official information easy to reach.
Use the family emergency plan to write down contacts and responsibilities. The earthquake emergency kit guide helps organize supplies for interrupted services.
What to do when shaking starts
Ready.gov advises people inside to stay inside and avoid doorways. Drop onto your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on to sturdy cover if it is close. Keep protecting your head and neck until the shaking stops.
In bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Outside, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines, then drop and cover. While driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.
After shaking, expect aftershocks. Check for injuries when it is safe, stay out of damaged buildings and follow local emergency instructions. Use texts to contact others when phone networks are busy.
A five-minute preparedness check
Name the household contact and meeting places. Find sturdy cover in the rooms you use most. Secure a tall piece of furniture or move a heavy item to a low shelf. Check that water, medicines, a flashlight and a radio are easy to reach.
Practise drop, cover and hold on together. Repeat the drill after a room changes or someone joins the household.
Sources and scope
- USGS mainshock record: date, time, magnitude, location and depth.
- USGS 25 April magnitude 6.6 record.
- USGS 26 April magnitude 6.7 record.
- USGS 12 May magnitude 7.3 record.
- USGS earthquake review: the disaster and scientific research.
- Ready.gov Earthquakes: household preparedness and response.
Verdict
Prepare a plan for repeated shaking. Secure heavy items, agree on contacts and meeting places, practise the protective response and keep essential supplies reachable.
Dated events for household planning
Compare the Nepal disaster records for floods, avalanches and earthquakes with their agency sources.
Questions people also ask
What happened in Nepal on 25 April 2015?
USGS records a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at 06:11:25 UTC, 67 kilometres north-northeast of Bharatpur. Its catalog gives a depth of 8.22 kilometres.
Which events followed the mainshock?
USGS records magnitude 6.6 on 25 April, magnitude 6.7 on 26 April and magnitude 7.3 on 12 May. Each record has its own date, location and event identifier.
What should a family prepare before an earthquake?
Ready.gov recommends a communication plan, meeting places, supplies for several days and securing heavy items. Keep water, medicines, a light and a way to receive official information within reach.
What should people do during an earthquake?
Ready.gov advises people inside to stay inside, drop onto their hands and knees, cover their head and neck, and hold on to sturdy cover if it is close. Outside, move away from buildings, trees and power lines.
Where can I check earthquake information?
Use the USGS earthquake catalog for measured events and your local emergency authority for instructions about roads, buildings, shelters and evacuation.