1988 Udayapur earthquakeवि.सं. २०४५ उदयपुर भूकम्प
The deadliest Nepali earthquake between 1934 and 2015. Striking before midnight near the Nepal–India border, it killed 721 people in Nepal across 22 eastern districts and prompted the country's first national building code.
See how this event fits into Nepal's wider history, and explore the districts across the affected region.
Magnitude
Mw 6.9
Deaths
721
721 in Nepal; ≈1,003 with Bihar, India
Date
21 August 1988 (local time)
5 Bhadra 2045 BS
Depth
57 km
Udayapur District, eastern Nepal
Epicentre in context
The highlighted circle is this event; the others show Nepal's full major-earthquake record.
Impact
721 people died in Nepal and ≈6,553 were injured; the combined Nepal–Bihar toll was about 1,003.
22 districts of eastern Nepal were affected; 64,174 private buildings, 468 public buildings and 790 government buildings were damaged.
Direct losses were put at ≈NPR 5 billion; the World Bank extended a NPR 1 billion reconstruction loan.
Response, reconstruction & legacy
The disaster directly motivated Nepal's first National Building Code (NBC, drafted early 1990s, NBC 105:1994 for seismic design).
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 1988 Udayapur earthquake?+
The 1988 Udayapur earthquake had a magnitude of Mw 6.9. It ruptured at a depth of about 57 km.
When did the 1988 Udayapur earthquake happen?+
It struck on 21 August 1988 (local time) (5 Bhadra 2045 BS in the Bikram Sambat calendar).
How many people died in the 1988 Udayapur earthquake?+
Deaths: 721 in Nepal; ≈1,003 with Bihar, India. Injuries: 6,553 injured in Nepal.
Where was the epicentre of the 1988 Udayapur earthquake?+
The epicentre was at Udayapur District, eastern Nepal, at coordinates 26.75°N, 86.62°E.
Sources & data note
Figures for the 1988 Udayapur earthquake as documented by the listed sources. Historical epicentres are approximate.