Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The terrible earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25 last moved Mount Everest just over three centimeters and the capital Kathmandu by three meters. The highest peak in the world shifted to the south-west, while the capital to the south. This was reported by a Chinese study published yesterday by the China Daily, the Beijing government’s newspaper. Nepalese authorities, however, have not confirmed the report and describe its findings as "unilateral".
According to the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation cited by Chinese researchers, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake - which caused 8,700 confirmed dead and 17 thousand injured, along with the collapse of thousands of buildings - has reversed the natural trajectory of the mountain to the northeast. In the last 10 years, the summit has been moving to the northeast by only 40 cm, at a speed of four centimeters per year. In the same period it grew by three centimeters.
The Kathmandu authorities bluntly reject the research. Madhusudan Adhikari, general manager of the Department of Surveys and Mapping, told AsiaNews: "We were not consulted, so we cannot say whether the study is authentic. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world and is not only a matter relating to China or Nepal. It is owned by the world. Since, however, it is in Nepal, we should have been consulted. The study has not yet been confirmed by our country. " "We are confident that China’s study would not publish incorrect information," he adds.
After a local study, the government confirmed that the capital has moved about three meters to the south. The research revealed that the position of Kathmandu and other mountains, including Mount Everest, has changed on the world map.
Minendra Rijal, Minister of Information and government spokesman, said: "Rather than blame China, we call upon the Chinese authorities to prove the change in position of the highest peak in the world." The earthquake caused an avalanche that killed 18 hikers and devastated the base camp. This led authorities to cancel all expeditions for 2015, after the strike and the boycott of the guides who demanded greater control and security.