In Nepal, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck just before midnight on Friday i.e 3rd november 2023, resulting in the deaths of at least 140 people and numerous injuries. According to the National Seismological Monitoring and Research Center, the earthquake occurred at 11:47 PM, with its epicenter located in the Jajarkot district, approximately 500 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
Since the catastrophic 2015 earthquake, which left over 22,000 people injured and almost 9,000 dead, this one has caused the most damage to the nation. The impact was felt not only in Kathmandu and its surrounding districts but also as far as neighboring India’s capital, New Delhi.
Krishna Prasad Bhandari, the spokesperson for the Nepali Army, stated that the Nepali Army immediately mobilized its personnel for rescue operations following the earthquake on Friday.
According to the government-run Nepal Television, the worst-affected areas are the Jajarkot and Rukum districts in western Nepal. As per the Prime Minister’s Office, the number of fatalities in Jajarkot and Rukum has risen to 140, and there are concerns that this number may further increase.
Officials have reported that Sarita Singh, the Deputy Mayor of Nalagad Municipality in Jajarkot, is among the casualties of the earthquake.
The National Seismological Monitoring and Research Center reported that around 159 aftershocks were felt on Friday night.
Many people spent the night in the open out of fear of further earthquakes and damage to their homes. Posts on social media showed people digging through the debris of collapsed buildings to rescue those trapped in the darkness.
Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal visited the earthquake-affected areas on Saturday. During his visit, he gathered information about the extent of the damage and conducted inspections of the affected areas with the Chief District Officer. Later, he returned from Jajarkot to Surkhet along with seven injured individuals and their family members.
Officials have indicated that the Nepali Army and Nepali Police personnel have been deployed for rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and property caused by it. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, stating that India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is prepared to provide all possible assistance. He expressed his sympathies to the grieving families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Officials have reported that the injured are receiving treatment at Surkhet District Hospital. Earthquakes are common in Nepal due to its location on a seismically active region where the Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates converge, causing periodic stress that results in earthquakes.
Nepal experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the far-western region on October 16. On October 22, a 6.1 magnitude struck the capital, Kathmandu. On October 3, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was reported in Kathmandu.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the 2015 these primarily destroyed or damaged over 800,000 homes in the western and central districts.
