On April 25, 2015, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit the country of Nepal, killing thousands of people and causing immense destruction.

Nepal is a small Himalayan country located in south central Asia. It is one of the world’s poorest nations and is having difficulty obtaining the resources and money to come back from this tragedy. Preliminary economic losses from the earthquake are shown to exceed $5 billion: about 25 percent of Nepal’s GDP.  For perspective, the United States’ GDP is about $17 trillion.

The quake struck at 11:56 a.m. local time and was centered less than 50 miles northwest of Kathmandu. It occurred at a depth of 9.3 miles, which is considered shallow and more damaging than a deeper quake.

Currently, the death toll stands at over 8,500 and there are still dozens believed to be missing even several weeks after the earthquake.   The country is used to small sized quakes, so this is the most deadly disaster the country has ever seen. Even weeks after, rescue teams are still finding and pulling people from the rubble.

Thirteen days after the earthquake, the nation ended a period of mourning that is customary in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Mourners took ritual baths in the Bagmati River and offered prayers for the loved ones that were lost.

The United States government provided $1 million in immediate assistance to Nepal. Additionally, a U.S. rescue team departed for the country to provide help. Within hours of the quake, India began planning a massive cross-border aid mission. On the first day alone, India delivered 187 tons of supplies, including 50 tons of water, 22 tons of food, and two tons of medicine. Aid has been sent from 15 other countries besides the US and India. Because of all the damage and lack of control, the Nepalese government and army are struggling to effectively coordinate and organize the massive influx of humanitarian aid.

It is going to take months, even years for Nepal to get back on its feet due to the intensity of the natural disaster.