(BBC) : More than 100 people have tragically lost their lives in a devastating earthquake that struck remote western Nepal on Friday. The epicenter of this earthquake is located in the rugged districts of Jajarkot and West Rukum, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu.
The impact of this natural disaster was felt strongly, not only in Nepal but also in neighboring India, with strong tremors reaching cities including Delhi.
Security forces have been swiftly deployed to these remote regions to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts. The Nepalese Army spokesman confirmed that over 100 individuals have sustained injuries, overwhelming local facilities, especially Jajarkot’s hospital, which is currently filled with the wounded.
Following the initial earthquake, three more tremors were experienced within an hour, causing many to spend the night outdoors due to fears of additional quakes and potential damage to their homes.
Local media has been sharing video footage showing the crumbling facades of multi-story brick houses. On social media, individuals can be seen digging through rubble in the dark, determined to rescue survivors from the remnants of collapsed buildings.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, visited the affected region on Saturday. He expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property via the social media platform X and promptly ordered security agencies to initiate rescue and relief operations.
However, search and rescue operations are facing challenges due to landslides that were triggered by the earthquake, blocking roads and hindering access to affected areas.
Suresh Sunar, the police chief of Jajarkot district, explained the difficulties in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the situation, saying, “I am out in the open myself. We are collecting details, but due to the cold and darkness, it is challenging to get information from remote areas.”
The earthquake, recorded at 23:47 local time (18:02 GMT), was reported by Nepal’s Monitoring and Research Centre. According to the US Geological Survey, it measured a magnitude of 5.6 and was classified as a shallow earthquake, indicating that it occurred closer to the earth’s surface.
Nepal, situated along the Himalayas, is prone to seismic activity. In the preceding month, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake caused injuries in the western district of Bajhang.
The country faced a devastating tragedy in 2015 when two powerful earthquakes, including a 7.8-magnitude quake, resulted in the loss of 9,000 lives and injuries to 22,309 individuals. This seismic event led to widespread destruction, affecting over 800,000 houses, government buildings, roads, and historic monuments in the Kathmandu Valley.
The challenging terrain and the nation’s history of earthquakes underscore the critical importance of robust disaster response and recovery efforts in Nepal.