Title: Strong Earthquake Hits Western Nepal, Leaving 69 Dead and Dozens Injured
Publication Date: November 4, 2022
KATHMANDU – A powerful earthquake struck the western region of Jajarkot in Nepal, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 69 lives and leaving dozens injured, according to local officials. Witnesses reported collapsed houses in the affected area, with tremors felt as far as New Delhi in India.
The Nepal National Seismological Centre initially classified the earthquake as a magnitude 6.4, but the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) later downgraded it to 5.7. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as a magnitude 5.6.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Jajarkot, a hilly district with a population of 190,000. Local authorities have been unable to establish contact with the area, as it is remote and scattered with villages.
Harish Chandra Sharma, a local official in Jajarkot, reported 34 deaths in the district. In the neighboring Rukum West district, police official Namaraj Bhattarai confirmed at least 35 casualties.
Rescue and relief operations are being hindered by blocked roads caused by dry landslides triggered by the earthquake. Efforts to reach affected areas have been challenging for search and rescue teams.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, expressed deep sorrow at the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake. He urged security agencies to launch immediate rescue and relief operations. The Prime Minister made this statement through social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
At least 20 injured individuals were rushed to the hospital in Jajarkot, according to Suresh Sunar, a district official. However, due to the cold and darkness of the night, obtaining information from remote areas has proven to be difficult.
The earthquake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time (1802 GMT) in Jajarkot district, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu. Tremors were felt in neighboring districts and as far away as Kathmandu itself.
Local media footage depicted the aftermath of the earthquake, showing the crumbled facades of multi-storied brick houses and scattered furniture. Residents described rushing out of their homes in panic, joining the crowd of terrified individuals on the streets.
This earthquake evokes memories of the devastating quakes that struck Nepal in 2015, which claimed the lives of approximately 9,000 people. The 2015 earthquakes reduced whole towns and historic sites to rubble, resulting in over a million houses destroyed and a tremendous economic cost of $6 billion.
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