What to do in the hours and days after an earthquake
The shaking is only the beginning. This guide covers the critical first minutes, how to handle dangerous aftershocks, checking for gas leaks and injuries, and staying safe in the days after a major quake in Nepal.
Surviving the main shaking is only the first step. The hours and days after a major earthquake are full of new dangers: powerful aftershocks that bring down already-weakened buildings, gas leaks and fires, broken glass and debris, contaminated water, and the risk of going back into an unsafe house too soon.
After the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, strong aftershocks continued for weeks, including a large one on 12 May 2015. Many people were hurt re-entering damaged buildings during these aftershocks. Knowing what to do — and what not to do — in this period can save your life and your family's.
This guide walks you through the right order of actions: protect yourself as shaking stops, get out safely, check for danger, help others, and then settle into safe routines while aftershocks continue.
The first minutes after shaking stops
When the shaking stops, do not assume it is over — a strong aftershock can follow within seconds or minutes. Move calmly and deliberately. Expect that power and water may be off and that the building may be weakened even if it looks fine.
Your first job is to get yourself and your family out of the building safely if it is damaged, and to a pre-agreed open meeting point away from walls, poles and structures that could fall in the next aftershock.
- Check yourself and those near you for injuries before moving.
- Put on closed shoes and grab your go-bag and torch.
- Move outside calmly using stairs, never a lift; do not run or push.
- Go to your family's agreed open meeting point, away from buildings and walls.
- Be ready to Drop, Cover and Hold On again if an aftershock hits.
Aftershocks: assume more shaking is coming
Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the main shock, but 'smaller' can still be very strong and very dangerous, especially to buildings already cracked by the first quake. They are most frequent in the first hours and days and can continue for weeks or months, gradually becoming less frequent.
Because of this, stay out of damaged buildings. Do not rush back inside to fetch belongings, check on the house, or recover valuables during this period — this is when many avoidable deaths and injuries happen. Stay in open space or a confirmed-safe structure, and treat every aftershock as if it could be another major quake.
Check for gas, fire, electricity and water dangers
Once you are safely outside and stable, the next priority is preventing fire and further harm. Gas leaks and damaged wiring are common after quakes and can cause fires and explosions.
If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, do not light a match, lighter or stove, and do not flick electrical switches — a spark can ignite leaked gas. If it is safe to reach the valve quickly, shut off the LPG cylinder and the main electricity switch, then leave.
- Smell of gas: shut off the cylinder valve if safe, open doors/windows, do not use any flame or switch.
- Do not use candles after a quake; use a torch instead because of fire and gas risk.
- Assume electrical wires and fallen poles are live; keep clear of them.
- Treat tap water as unsafe until authorities confirm it; drink stored or purified water.
- Watch for landslides and ground cracks if you are in a hill area or near a slope.
First aid and helping others safely
Hospitals may be overwhelmed and ambulances delayed, so basic first aid from neighbours saves lives in the first hours. Treat serious bleeding by pressing firmly on the wound, keep injured people warm and still, and do not move someone with a possible spine or neck injury unless they are in immediate danger.
If you hear people trapped, tell rescuers and trained responders rather than digging into unstable rubble yourself, which can cause a collapse onto you and the trapped person. Use a whistle, knock on pipes, or shout to help rescuers locate trapped people. Help children, the elderly, disabled neighbours and anyone living alone — they are most at risk in the aftermath.
Staying safe in the days that follow
Once the immediate emergency passes, your focus shifts to staying safe while aftershocks continue and services are restored. Do not move back into a damaged building until a qualified engineer or the local authority confirms it is safe — visible cracks, leaning walls and damaged pillars are warning signs to stay out.
Get information from official sources to avoid rumours and panic. Conserve your phone battery, send a short text or message to relatives to say you are safe rather than making long calls (networks are congested), and follow guidance from the NDRRMA, local government and Radio Nepal.
- Do not re-enter buildings with cracks, leaning walls or damaged pillars.
- Use stored/purified water and eat your safe-to-eat food supplies; avoid spoiled food.
- Text instead of calling to keep networks free; tell one relative you are safe.
- Follow NDRRMA, local government and Radio Nepal; ignore unverified rumours.
- Keep your go-bag, shoes and torch ready in case you must move again.
Key takeaways
- ✓When shaking stops, expect aftershocks; move calmly and get out of damaged buildings.
- ✓Do not re-enter a damaged building for belongings — aftershocks cause many such deaths.
- ✓If you smell gas, use no flames or switches; shut off the cylinder and electricity if safe.
- ✓Use a torch, never candles, because of fire and gas-leak risk.
- ✓Give basic first aid, help vulnerable neighbours, and leave heavy rescue to trained teams.
- ✓Text instead of calling, drink only stored/purified water, and follow official sources.
What to Do After an Earthquake — FAQ
How long do aftershocks last after a big earthquake?+
Aftershocks are most frequent and strongest in the first hours and days, then gradually become less frequent. After a major quake they can continue for weeks or even months. Treat damaged buildings as unsafe throughout this period.
Is it safe to go back inside my house after the shaking stops?+
Not until you know it is safe. Aftershocks can collapse a building already weakened by the main quake. Avoid any structure with cracks, leaning walls or damaged pillars, and wait for an engineer or the local authority to confirm it is safe to re-enter.
What should I do if I smell gas after an earthquake?+
Do not light any flame and do not touch electrical switches — a spark can ignite the gas. If you can reach it quickly and safely, shut off the LPG cylinder valve and the main electricity, open doors and windows, and leave the area.
Should I call my family to check they are safe?+
Send a short text or message instead of calling. Phone networks get heavily congested after a disaster, and texts use less of the limited capacity. Agreeing on one out-of-area relative as a contact point also helps everyone reconnect.
Is tap water safe to drink after an earthquake?+
Treat it as unsafe until authorities confirm it, because pipes can crack and contaminate the supply. Drink your stored water, or purify found water by boiling, using purification tablets or a filter.
Sources & data note
These guides explain widely-accepted SEO, AEO and GEO practice as documented by Google Search Central, schema.org and current industry research. Search and AI systems evolve continually — treat specific thresholds (e.g. Core Web Vitals targets) as current guidance and verify against the latest official documentation. Examples are tailored to Nepal's market.