The Himalayas are one of the world’s most worrisome hot zones for earthquake risk, which is a function of tectonic activity, human population size and the quality (or lack thereof) of construction.
That is why the death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Katmandu today is almost certainly going to be far higher than initial reports of hundreds...
Horrifying devastation from this quake, with aftershocks causing damage around the region.