The 2015 Nepal earthquake which killed more than 8,000 people and injured more than 16,000, occurred at 11:56 NST on 25 April, with a moment magnitude of 7.8Mw. Its epicenter was the village of Barpak, Gorkha district. It is the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. Some casualties are also reported in the adjoining areas of India, China, and Bangladesh.

The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 19, making it the deadliest day on the mountain in history. It triggered another huge avalanche in Langtang valley, where 250 were reported missing.

Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless with entire villages flattened, across many districts of the country. Centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including some at the Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar Square and the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Geophysicists and other experts had warned for decades that Nepal was vulnerable to a deadly earthquake, particularly because of its geology, urbanization, and architecture.

Continued aftershocks occurred throughout Nepal within 15–20 minute intervals, with one shock reaching a magnitude of 6.7 on 26 April at 12:54:08 NST. The country also had a continued risk of landslides. Assuming that this earthquake was the largest event in this seismic episode, Nepal could expect more than 30 aftershocks greater than magnitude 5 over the following month. As of 1 May 2015, 120 aftershocks had occurred with different epicenters and magnitudes above 4 Mw.