A devastating earthquake has claimed the lives of over 128 people in western Nepal. The tremor, which hit late Friday night, caught many off guard as they slept.
Initial reports suggest significant structural damages with numerous houses collapsing and many villages losing communication. The epicenter was pinpointed to Jajarkot district in the Karnali province, about 310 miles away from the capital, Kathmandu.
Efforts to rescue survivors trapped under debris went on throughout the night. However, the rescue operations faced challenges due to landslides that blocked roads in some areas. Helicopters are being employed to transport medical personnel and supplies to affected regions. Notably, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was part of one such relief flight.
In Jajarkot alone, the death toll has reached 92, with another 55 injured, as per police spokesman Kuber Kadayat. The neighbouring Rukum district also witnessed severe casualties, with 36 deaths and over 80 injured.
Shocks from the earthquake were felt not only in Nepal but also in distant locations like Kathmandu and India’s capital, New Delhi. The quake had a depth of 11.1 miles, as stated by the US Geological Survey.
It’s worth noting that Nepal is no stranger to earthquakes. In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude quake took the lives of around 9,000 people and caused extensive structural damage.