An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 14:53 local time, 08:53 UTC, on September 21, 2009 in the eastern region of Bhutan. The epicenter was situated in Mongar. Mongar is about 200 k east of the capital city Thimphu. More than 2,543 households from 47 gewogs in the 6 eastern districts of Mongar, Trashigang, Trashiyantse, Lhuentse, Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar were effected. The earthquake claimed the lives of 12 people.
Remains of the Thnagrong Lhakhang.
Inside the Thangrong lhakhang.
Thangrong lhakhang, another view.
The kitchen staff at the Thangrong Community School split firewood to prepare dinner. Behind them, the store is partially damaged by the earthquake.
Thangrong is under Mongar dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan.
People used these kind of tarps to make temporary shelter. Most lost their homes, while others were too scared of the aftershocks to sleep indoors.
This house in Dramitse was one of the several majorly damaged houses.
Royal Bhutan Army and students of the Vocational Training Institute at work to clear the debris, and help rebuild homes.
Almost all the houses damaged were built of stone.
Crude building techniques were recognised as one important reason for not being able to withstand the earthquake.
Even the earth bore the blunt of the earthquake in Narang.
A video journalist capturing the devastation.
This beautiful chorten in Narang was split through the middle.
Corners, to the back – these parts of the house were first to fall.
Most modern government infrastructure like schools and hospitals also crumbled due to the earthquake. Even concrete and steel of this Basic Health Unit wasn’t able to withstand the earthquake.
The earthquake exposed the shoddy work done by our contractors.
Remains of the Basic Health Unit in Yangnear.
The beautiful Yangneer lhakhang was one of the many temples destroyed by the quake.
Trashigang dzong, as seen from Yangneer.
Cracks on the walls inside the Trashigang dzong.
The remains of the chorten below the Trashigang dzong, on the old approach route.
Cracks on the walls of the Lhuentse dzong.
These stone steps in the Lhuentse dzong had sunk into the earth.
Aftermath of an Earthquake in Eastern Bhutan
An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 14:53 local time, 08:53 UTC, on September 21, 2009 in the eastern region of Bhutan. The epicenter was situated in Mongar. Mongar is about 200 k east of the capital city Thimphu. More than 2,543 households from 47 gewogs in the 6 eastern districts of Mongar, Trashigang, Trashiyantse, Lhuentse, Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar were effected. The earthquake claimed the lives of 12 people.
Remains of the Thnagrong Lhakhang.
Inside the Thangrong lhakhang.
Thangrong lhakhang, another view.
The kitchen staff at the Thangrong Community School split firewood to prepare dinner. Behind them, the store is partially damaged by the earthquake.
Thangrong is under Mongar dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan.
People used these kind of tarps to make temporary shelter. Most lost their homes, while others were too scared of the aftershocks to sleep indoors.
This house in Dramitse was one of the several majorly damaged houses.
Royal Bhutan Army and students of the Vocational Training Institute at work to clear the debris, and help rebuild homes.
Almost all the houses damaged were built of stone.
Crude building techniques were recognised as one important reason for not being able to withstand the earthquake.
Even the earth bore the blunt of the earthquake in Narang.
A video journalist capturing the devastation.
This beautiful chorten in Narang was split through the middle.
Corners, to the back – these parts of the house were first to fall.
Most modern government infrastructure like schools and hospitals also crumbled due to the earthquake. Even concrete and steel of this Basic Health Unit wasn’t able to withstand the earthquake.
The earthquake exposed the shoddy work done by our contractors.
Remains of the Basic Health Unit in Yangnear.
The beautiful Yangneer lhakhang was one of the many temples destroyed by the quake.
Trashigang dzong, as seen from Yangneer.
Cracks on the walls inside the Trashigang dzong.
The remains of the chorten below the Trashigang dzong, on the old approach route.
Cracks on the walls of the Lhuentse dzong.
These stone steps in the Lhuentse dzong had sunk into the earth.