A powerful earthquake rocked the western region of Jajarkot in Nepal, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 128 lives and leaving dozens injured. The quake’s impact extended as far as New Delhi in neighboring India, causing buildings to shake. Panicking everyone around.
The earthquake hit at 11:47 p.m. on Friday, with a magnitude of 6.4 according to Nepal’s National Seismological Centre. The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported it as a 5.7, downgrading from 6.2, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured it as 5.6. This earthquake is the deadliest to hit Nepal since the devastating quakes in 2015, that took away 9,000 lives and caused widespread destruction.
The epicenter of this recent quake was located in the hilly area near Jajarkot, approximately 500 km (300 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu. This district is home to a population of 190,000, with scattered villages in remote hills. As communication remains challenging in these areas, officials are concerned that the death toll may continue to rise. Jajarkot district official Harish Chandra Sharma noted that “The number of injured could be in the hundreds, and the deaths could go up as well.”
Reports indicate that 92 people lost their lives in Jajarkot, with an additional 36 casualties in the neighboring Rukum West district, both situated in Karnali province. The village of Ramidanda served as the epicenter of this devastating event. Due to fear many residents in the affected areas spent the night outdoors, thinking about the aftershocks that could further damage their homes. Landslides, triggered by the earthquake, have blocked roads. Giving trouble to the rescue efforts. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal promptly visited the area with an army medical team to coordinate relief operations.
Local media coverage also showed pictures of the calamity displaying collapsed buildings and scattered furniture. People rushed into the streets for safety. This tragic event has once again highlighted that Nepal is prone to earthquakes and the urgent need for disaster preparation and response is required.
