Owing to large earthquakes, a dense population and vulnerable residential buildings, Nepal ranks among the countries with the highest seismic risk globally. In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, claiming about 9,000 human lives and leaving many homeless. Yet, even larger earthquakes are overdue.

The impact of future earthquakes could potentially be limited by implementing an Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS) i.e. a system that detects early stages of an earthquake, issues alerts, and provides critical time for users to seek cover or exit a building before the shaking arrives. Recent advances in the Internet of Things (IoTs) and cloud-based technologies have significantly reduced the cost of EEWS, making them available globally. An open-source initiative, OpenEEW, developed a straightforward, low-cost EEW solution open to the public.

This project proposes to test the new technology by establishing a real-time earthquake monitoring system in central Nepal, with the ultimate goal of testing the feasibility of EEW in the region. The project began in June 2021.

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