Earthquake in Nepal - 네팔지진

  More than 3,200 people have died in a massive earthquake that struck near Kathumandu, Nepal's capital, Saturday and officials warn that the fighure could reach up to 5,000. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake is the worst such disaster to hit the Himalaian nation in more than 80 years - some 8,500 people died in an earthquake that measured 8.1 on the Richter scale in 1934. Reports of the people digging among the ruins with their bare hands to find survivors in the absence of heavy equipment shows the utter devastation wrought on the poor country whose economy relies largely on tourism. Massive avalanches on Mount Everest caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks have also claimed at least 18 lives.

  Countires have quickly pledged  humanitarian aid and are sending team to assist in the rescue and recovery effort. Korea has pledged $1 millions in initial humanitarian aid and dispatched an advance team and a 10-member search and rescue team on Monday. Another 30-member search and rescue team will be dispatched on Aug.1, the government said. However the second team should leave as soon as possible as the search and rescue operaions are a fight against time

  About 300,000 foreign nationals are thought to have been in Nepal when the earthquake struck at a busy time in Nepal's trekking and climbing season, and countries are expediting efforts to assist their citizens. Three Koreans have been reported injuired in the earthquake - a worker at a hydroelectric dam project and two travelers - with one of them sustaining serious injuried.

 

  1) magnitude : 지진의 규모, 천체의 등급 이라는 의미로 많이 쓰임.

  2) utter devastation : utter / 철저한, 완전한 + devastation / 특히 넒은 지역에 걸친 대대적인 파괴 및 참상.

  3) avalanche : 눈사태

  4) pledge : 맹세, 서약, 약속  cf. Pledge of Alligiance : (미) 국기에 대한 맹세

  5) dispatch : (특별한 목적을 위해) 파견하다.

  6) hydroelectric dam : 수력발전용 댐