This Interactive Map Shows Nepal Before and After the Earthquake
New satellite map shows devastation of Nepal from space
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With over eight million people affected and thousands dead in Saturday’s 7.8 earthquake in Nepal, experts are scrambling to get a full understanding of the destruction. Along with the feet on the ground, geographic information systems (GIS) are one tool in their arsenal, offering a birds-eye view of current conditions that can be compared to past images of the country.
This satellite map, developed by Esri, uses imagery from a Pleiades satellite deployed by Airbus Defence and Space and collected on November 29, 2014 and April 27, 2015. Swipe across the map to compare Nepal before and after the quake. It’s also possible to see the fate of some of the many cultural treasures damaged by the quake.
The map below shows Kathmandu’s Dharahara Tower, which was once the country’s tallest structure:
Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, which hosts many temples and holy sites, was also affected by the quake:
And the data collection — and rescue effort — isn’t over yet. BBC, which has also collected several before and after images of World Heritage sites and other affected areas, reports that officials say “the number of casualties could rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous areas” of the country.
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