Rapid urban growth and earthquake risk in Musikot, mid-western hills, Nepal

Erdkunde 2015, Vol 69, Issue 4, 307-325, doi:10.3112/erdkunde.2015.04.02:

Taking Musikot in Nepal as a characteristic case study of rapid urban change, this article analyses its increasing local earthquake-risk in light of insufficient seismic building code implementation and risk-sensitive urban planning. Applying an approach that combines repeat photography and field mapping, the urban development of Musikot and the increasing fragility of the building stock are assessed using a modified seismic evaluation scheme for local building types.

Almost one fourth of all construction was found to be at high risk of damage to earthquakes. It is argued, that without proper training in earthquake resistant construction techniques and awareness campaigns, the (mal-)adoption of modern construction materials will amplify earthquake risk in rural centres. This study stresses the need to broaden the research of disaster risk reduction and adequate adaptation strategies beyond the current focus on large agglomerations to include rapidly urbanising small settlements in rural areas, which are all too often neglected.