A powerful earthquake struck the western region of Jajarkot in Nepal, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 140 lives and numerous injuries on a Friday. Witnesses reported that buildings in the area collapsed, and the tremors were felt as far as New Delhi, India.
The Nepal National Seismological Centre initially reported the quake as a magnitude 6.4, but the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) later revised it to 5.7, while the US Geological Survey estimated it as a magnitude 5.6.
In the affected region near the earthquake’s epicenter in Jajarkot, which has a population of 190,000 and scattered villages in hilly terrain, communication with local officials was challenging. Reports from Jajarkot indicated at least 34 fatalities, and neighboring Rukum West district reported at least 35 deaths.
Rescue and search teams faced obstacles in reaching affected areas due to blocked roads caused by dry landslides triggered by the earthquake.
The epicenter in Ramidanda remained inaccessible to authorities. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed deep condolences for the loss of life and property and instructed security agencies to initiate immediate rescue and relief operations via social media.
Approximately 20 injured individuals were swiftly transported to hospitals in Jajarkot, but gathering information from remote areas was complicated by cold weather and the darkness of night.
The Nepal National Seismological Centre reported that the earthquake occurred at 11:47 pm in Jajarkot district, which is located about 500 km west of the capital, Kathmandu.
Local media displayed scenes of multi-story brick houses with damaged facades, and there were reports of tremors in neighboring districts and as far away as Kathmandu.
The earthquake’s impact was even felt in New Delhi, approximately 600 km to the south, with people evacuating buildings and sharing videos on social media platforms. This event brought back painful memories of the devastating earthquakes in Nepal in 2015, which claimed around 9,000 lives, caused extensive destruction, and had a profound economic impact.
