Magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Nepal has shifted Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, by three centimeters (1.2 inches) to the southwest, Chinese authorities said.
Mount Everest has moved 40 centimeters to the northeast over the past ten years, with its height increasing by three centimeters, Xinhua reported.
However, April 2015 Nepal earthquake hasn't affected the height of the 8,848-meter mountain, according to the report by China's National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation.
The earthquake caused an avalanche on Everest, killing 18 people and prompting authorities in both China and Nepal to cancel all climbs for this year.
Mount Everest is located on the collision belt for the boundary between the Indian and the Eurasian Plates, where the crustal movements are active. Geographical changes in the area have great influence on the climate, environment and ecology of East and South Asia, experts said.
Kathmandu valley has been declared 'Disaster Area' for a year based on Natural Calamity (Relief) Act, 1982. At least 320 aftershocks of magnitude 4 or greater have been recorded since April 25 major quake.
Earthquake in Nepal has already claimed lives of at least 8,792 people as of June 17, 2015. The highest number of fatalities have been reported from Sindhupalchowk (3,440), followed by Kathmandu (1,222).
The earthquake caused widespread damage in Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh. A total of 78 deaths was reported in India, followed by 25 in China and four in Bangladesh. It is the deadliest earthquake on record to hit Nepal.
Xinhua mentions:
Monitoring data collected by the department from 2005 to 2015 shows that the mountain has been moving at a speed of four centimeters per year and has been growing by 0.3 centimeters annually.
Observers with the department found that Mount Qomolangma shifted three centimeters southwestward after the devastating Nepal earthquake on April 25, while the height of the mountain was left unaffected.Time reports:
That’s a significant movement for Mount Everest, which the agency said has moved only 4 cm. annually on average between 2005 and 2015 due to crustal movements.The Australian writes:
Scientists believe that the densely inhabited Kathmandu Valley, about 80km from the epicentre, was moved south by almost 2m by the earthquake.Recommended post: Full updates on Nepal earthquake 2015