A powerful earthquake has struck western Nepal, leaving a toll of at least 157 people dead, as emergency services work tirelessly to rescue survivors from the rubble. According to local reports, the quake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, hit the Jajarkot District at 11:47 p.m. on November 3, 2023.
The tremor, the deadliest since a 2015 disaster that claimed around 9,000 lives, was felt across the region, including in the Indian capital, New Delhi. Rescue operations have been challenged by blocked roads and landslides, significantly delaying the arrival of aid and emergency personnel to the most affected areas.
In the Jajarkot and Rukum Districts, over 184 people were reported injured and taken to hospitals. Many residents have been forced to spend the night outdoors as their homes collapsed or suffered significant damage. The Nepalese Army and Police are leading the rescue efforts focused on reaching remote and cut-off areas.
The situation remains dire as aftershocks continue to shake the region. The Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has visited the affected areas to oversee the relief efforts and meet with victims.
Adding to the crisis, the affected region’s infrastructure, including roads and communication lines, has been severely impacted, hindering the relief process. Some of the injured have been airlifted to hospitals in Kathmandu for critical care, but nightfall and ongoing aftershocks pose additional challenges to the rescue operations. Another quake, measuring 3.6, hit early Sunday.
The international community has responded, offering humanitarian aid to the Himalayan nation. Officials have yet to release a full assessment of the casualties and the extent of the damage but have restored some of the essential services like electricity and telecommunications in certain areas.
With the current death toll expected to rise, this event marks one of the worst earthquakes in the nation’s recent history. The impact was also felt in the Gangetic plains of northern India due to the region’s soft soil amplifying seismic activity from the Himalayas.
The earthquake’s impact has revived memories of the devastating 2015 quakes, which led to significant changes in building codes and emergency preparedness in Nepal.