Seismic risk assessment of schools in Nepal for effective disaster risk reduction practices

Abstract. The 2015 Mw 7.9 Gorkha earthquake severely affected 40 % of Nepal's districts, damaging ~7,200 school buildings and ~30,000 classrooms. As Nepal remains highly susceptible to large earthquakes, improving earthquake awareness and preparedness among students and teachers is essential. Since 2018, the Seismology at School in Nepal (SASIN) program has promoted earthquake education through school-based outreach activities. This study presents the first comprehensive school-based seismic risk assessment in Nepal, evaluating 24 schools in western Nepal to (1) assess the seismic risk of school buildings and classrooms, (2) identify structural and non-structural vulnerabilities, and (3) propose practical, low-cost measures for earthquake risk reduction. The assessment integrates information from school authorities, qualitative assessments, systematic visual inspections, and a newly developed Earthquake Evacuation Drill Guide tailored to local contexts. A total of 730 classrooms were classified into four seismic risk categories: low (35 %), medium (35 %), high (17 %), and very high (13 %). Buildings constructed after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake generally showed lower vulnerability, whereas older buildings or those not complying with the National Building Code accounted for most medium, high, and very-high risk categories. The proposed framework supports priority setting, low-cost risk reduction strategies, and safer, more resilient school environments throughout Nepal. These kinds of classroom earthquake risk assessments are highly recommended in all schools in Nepal and across the Himalayan region.