A cloudy, calm day greeted Kathmandu on April 25, 2015. A cool 62 degrees reigned over the day as a Saturday passed, giving way to what was supposed to be another regular Sunday.
07:09:08.90 UTC, Apr 26, 2015
The ground cracked and separated beneath feet. Buildings crashed to their doom. Chaos reared its manic head over Nepal as an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude shook the ground and death greeted over 2,400 people.
What is it like to experience such an emotionally and physically tumultuous moment? We can only wish not to answer. Even in the 21st century, we are vulnerable to nature’s wrath, in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and their sister phenomena. A nation left in mourning and repair, the images broadcast from a country halfway across the globe, leave a haunting question to consider—if we cannot predict it, how do we cope with it? Thankfully, that’s where the silver lining glows.
In a humanitarian maneuver, Google launched its person-finder application for use by the victims of the earthquake, providing many with knowledge of their loved ones’ safety. The Red Cross and Nepal’s own humanitarian organizations sprang into action, recovering survivors underneath the rubble. The United Nations and most P5 nations sent teams accompanied by humanitarian-relief experts to aid the impoverished nation in her effort to relieve as many of her citizens as possible.
As the search for survivors continues and the death toll rises above 5,000, we can only hope for further successful extraction and recovery, and the answer to a question in action: how can we become best prepared so tragedy doesn’t come knocking on our door one fine Sunday?
Featured image by Krish Dulal via Wikimedia Commons.
