In a devastating seismic event, Nepal was struck by a powerful earthquake, resulting in the loss of at least 69 lives and leaving dozens injured.
The earthquake epicenter was located in the western region of Jajarkot, and its impact was felt as far as New Delhi, India, where buildings shook.
Initially reported as a magnitude 6.4 quake by Nepal’s National Seismological Centre, subsequent assessments by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) downgraded it to a magnitude 5.7, while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as a magnitude 5.6.
The epicenter, located in the hilly district of Jajarkot with a population of 190,000, remains largely inaccessible due to landslides triggered by the earthquake. Local officials confirmed 34 fatalities in Jajarkot and an additional 35 deaths in the neighboring Rukum West district.
Rescue and search operations have been hampered by blocked roads, making it challenging for teams to reach the affected areas. The village of Ramidanda, at the epicenter of the earthquake, has yet to be reached by authorities.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, expressed his condolences for the loss of lives and property, instructing security agencies to initiate immediate rescue and relief efforts via social media.
At least 20 injured individuals have been rushed to the hospital in Jajarkot, as confirmed by district official Suresh Sunar. However, gathering information from remote areas has proven difficult due to cold temperatures and the late hour.
The earthquake, which occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time, originated in Jajarkot district in the Karnali province, approximately 500 km (310 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu.
Local media outlets have shown footage of collapsed multi-storied brick houses with debris scattered around. The tremors were felt in neighboring districts, and even as far away as Kathmandu, where residents reported houses shaking and rushed into the streets.
This earthquake serves as a painful reminder of the devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, which claimed the lives of about 9,000 people and caused extensive destruction to towns, ancient temples, and historic sites, resulting in economic losses estimated at $6 billion.
