1833 Nepal earthquakeवि.सं. १८९० को भूकम्प
A rare case where foreshocks saved thousands of lives: two strong shocks during the evening drove residents outdoors before the mainshock struck around 11 pm, collapsing thousands of buildings onto largely empty rooms.
See how this event fits into Nepal's wider history, and explore the districts across the affected region.
Magnitude
Mw 7.5–7.7 (est.)
see note below
Deaths
500
<500 (foreshocks drove people outdoors)
Date
26 August 1833
Bhadra 1890 BS
Epicentre
North or northeast of Kathmandu (approximate)
approximate (historical)
Magnitude note: Bilham (CIRES) estimates Mw ≈7.5 ± 0.2; Johnston's intensity method yields ≈7.7 ± 0.2. No instrumental record exists.
Epicentre in context
The highlighted circle is this event; the others show Nepal's full major-earthquake record.
Impact
Two large foreshocks (~M5 around 6 pm and ~M6.5 at about 10:45 pm) preceded the mainshock by minutes to hours, so most residents were outdoors when it struck — total deaths stayed below ≈500 despite massive destruction.
More than 4,200 dwellings collapsed within the Kathmandu Valley alone and ≈18,000 across the affected region, by contemporary counts compiled in the NSET catalogue.
The original Dharahara tower (built 1832, then nine storeys) was severely damaged barely a year after completion, and was rebuilt shorter.
Where sources disagree
- Magnitude estimates span Mw 7.3–7.7 depending on the intensity-attenuation method used; Amarnepal charts the mid-range 7.6.
Amarnepal states ranges rather than inventing a single figure when credible sources differ.
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 1833 Nepal earthquake?+
The 1833 Nepal earthquake had a magnitude of Mw 7.5–7.7 (est.). Bilham (CIRES) estimates Mw ≈7.5 ± 0.2; Johnston's intensity method yields ≈7.7 ± 0.2. No instrumental record exists.
When did the 1833 Nepal earthquake happen?+
It struck on 26 August 1833 (Bhadra 1890 BS in the Bikram Sambat calendar).
How many people died in the 1833 Nepal earthquake?+
Deaths: <500 (foreshocks drove people outdoors).
Where was the epicentre of the 1833 Nepal earthquake?+
The epicentre was at North or northeast of Kathmandu (approximate) (approximate, reconstructed from historical records), at coordinates 27.9°N, 85.5°E.
Sources & data note
Figures for the 1833 Nepal earthquake as documented by the listed sources. Historical epicentres are approximate.