Earthquake in Northwestern Nepal Leaves 157 Dead and Many Injured
KATHMANDU – At least 157 people have been killed and many others injured in a powerful earthquake that struck a remote part of northwestern Nepal overnight on Friday. The quake, with a magnitude of 5.6, toppled multiple buildings and caused widespread destruction in the affected area.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake originated about 42 kilometers from Jumla, Nepal, in Karnali province. It struck at a relatively shallow depth of 18 kilometers, and its tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi, the capital of India.
Nepal police spokesperson Kuber Kadayat stated that the focus is currently on search and rescue operations. As a result, there is no accurate estimation of the number of collapsed or damaged houses and infrastructure. However, in some villages, it is believed that up to 90% of the houses have collapsed.
The death toll has reached 157, with 170 people reported injured so far. This earthquake is considered the deadliest since the devastating earthquake in 2015 that claimed the lives of over 9,000 people. The hardest-hit regions include Jajarkot and Rukum West districts.
Disturbing footage from Reuters showed the aftermath of the earthquake, with houses reduced to piles of rubble in Jajarkot district. The hilly terrain and lack of communication have made it difficult for officials to establish contact in the affected areas, raising concerns that the casualties could increase.
Harish Chandra Sharma, a district official from Jajarkot, mentioned that the number of injured could reach the hundreds and the death toll might rise further. Many houses have collapsed, and others have developed cracks, forcing thousands of residents to spend the night in open grounds due to fear of aftershocks.
Jajarkot district, with a population of 190,000, is scattered with villages in remote hills. Pictures released by AFP news agency depict survivors gathering at the main hospital in Jajarkot.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, expressed his condolences and solidarity with the people of Nepal. He assured them that India is ready to provide any assistance and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Earthquakes are frequent in Nepal due to its location at the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which form the Himalayan mountain range. The 2015 earthquake alone caused extensive damage to homes and buildings and resulted in $6 billion in damages.
As the situation continues to unfold, updates on the earthquake will be provided.