On Apr. 25, 2015, there was a disaster that left Nepal villages in shambles. This 7.8-magnitude earthquake took place somewhere between the capital, Kathmandu, and a city called Pokhara. So far, at least 5,000 people are dead, and many more are still missing. 11,000 people are injured, and 50,000 homes have been destroyed because of this disaster. The last major earthquake that occurred in Nepal was in 1934, where over 8,000 people were killed.

The most interesting part of this story is that scientists already predicted that another extreme earthquake was on its way, and they were even able to determine where the location would be. Major earthquakes usually occur every 75 to 80 years in that region. The last one was 81 years ago, so many seismologists believed that one was coming soon. Sure enough, this earthquake was right on schedule.

Because Nepal is so far away from the United States, we have no way to understand what they are going through. I can’t even imagine the pain of losing everything: family, other loved ones, and homes. These people have no idea whether their family is alive and well or buried under a collapsed building, dead. However, a few survivors, including a baby, woman, and teenage boy, have been found because of the relief efforts. Thankfully, many countries are donating money to send supplies and relief. Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross all accept donations to help Nepal, we may not be able to completely restore what is lost, but we can surely try.