What is the capital city devastated by the 2015 Nepal earthquake?

The capital city devastated by the 2015 Nepal earthquake was Kathmandu. Nepal’s capital, located in the Kathmandu Valley, suffered severe shaking, structural damage, and loss of life during the disaster.

On April 25, 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, with its epicenter near Barpak in Gorkha District, west of Kathmandu. The earthquake was caused by movement along the boundary where the Indian Plate is being pushed beneath the Eurasian Plate. A major aftershock on May 12 caused further destruction.

Kathmandu’s historic heritage was especially vulnerable. Several centuries-old monuments and temples collapsed or were badly damaged, including structures in Kathmandu Durbar Square. The earthquake also triggered landslides and avalanches, including a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest.

Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital, and New Delhi is India’s capital. Those cities are regional neighbors, but Kathmandu was the capital directly devastated in Nepal.