Himalayan Seismic Hazard

Abstract

The devastating earthquake in Bhuj on 26 January 2001 highlighted the high earthquake risk in the Indian region of Gujarat. In their Perspective, Bilham et al. warn that major earthquakes may be expected in another part of India, the Himalayan arc. An analysis of historic earthquakes suggests that several major earthquakes are overdue in this region but that recent low activity has focused attention away from the Himalayan arc. Projections from earlier earthquakes suggest that just one of the possibly overdue Himalayan earthquakes may lead to 200,000 predictable fatalities.