On November 3, a powerful earthquake struck remote western Nepal, resulting in the deaths of over 140 people. The affected areas, Jajarkot and West Rukum, located 500km (310 miles) west of Kathmandu, have seen the deployment of security forces to assist in rescue efforts. The tremors were felt as far as the Nepalese capital and cities in neighbouring India, including Delhi.
According to the army spokesman, over 100 people have been injured, overwhelming the hospital in Jajarkot. In the aftermath of the quake, three additional tremors occurred within an hour, leading many people to spend the night outdoors due to fears of further quakes and damage to their homes.
Footage from local media revealed collapsed multi-storied brick houses, with people frantically searching through the rubble in darkness to save survivors. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his condolences on social media and promptly ordered security agencies to initiate rescue and relief operations. However, search and rescue efforts are being hindered by landslides that have blocked roads in the affected region.
Suresh Sunar, the police chief of Jajarkot district, explained the challenges of gathering complete information:
I am out in the open myself. We are collecting details, but due to the cold and night, it is difficult to obtain information from remote areas.
The earthquake, recorded at 23:47 local time (18:02 GMT), had a magnitude of 5.6, according to the US Geological Survey. It was classified as a shallow earthquake, originating closer to the earth's surface. Nepal, situated along the Himalayas, experiences frequent seismic activity.
In recent history, Nepal has faced significant earthquakes. In 2015, two devastating earthquakes resulted in the loss of 9,000 lives and left 22,309 injured. The first quake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, caused the most destruction. Numerous aftershocks followed, including a 7.3-magnitude quake in May of that year. The disasters demolished or damaged over 800,000 houses, primarily in western and central districts. Government buildings, roads, and renowned historic monuments, including UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, were also impacted.
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