Strong Earthquake Strikes Nepal, Leaving Many Injured and Trapped
Kathmandu, Nov 4: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 hit the western part of Nepal on Friday night. The quake was not very deep, occurring just 11 miles beneath the earth’s surface, as measured by the US Geological Survey. The impact of the earthquake was severe, causing homes and buildings to collapse.
Videos and photos shared on social media showed local people trying to rescue survivors from the debris in the dark.
Mud houses were either flattened or damaged, and many survivors had to stay outside for safety. The sirens of emergency vehicles filled the air as help was desperately needed.
The effects of the earthquake were felt as far away as India’s capital, New Delhi, which is almost 500 kilometers from the epicenter of the quake, located 42 kilometers south of Jumla.
Tragically, the death toll has risen to 119, with at least 100 people injured, according to Gopal Chandra Bhattarai, a spokesperson for the police in Karnali Province.
He explained that the remote location of the affected areas has made it challenging to gather information.
Nepali security forces have been working tirelessly to assist in search and rescue operations. Some roads have been blocked due to damage, but authorities are trying to reach the affected areas using alternative routes.
The local district hospital is crowded with residents bringing in injured victims for medical care.
Nepal is situated in an area with high seismic activity, where the Indian tectonic plate pushes against the Eurasian plate, forming the mighty Himalayan mountain range. Earthquakes are a common occurrence in this region.
Nararyan Prasad Bhattarai, a spokesperson for the home ministry, confirmed that the earthquake caused both human and physical damage in two districts.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal, expressed his deep sadness over the suffering caused by the earthquake, which affected both people and buildings.
This earthquake is a grim reminder of the devastating earthquake in 2015, which had a magnitude of 7.8 and resulted in the loss of nearly 9,000 lives and injuries to over 22,000 people.
It also led to the destruction of more than half a million homes and thousands of schools, leaving almost one million children without classrooms. Many historical monuments and royal palaces, which were popular tourist attractions, were also damaged.
In November last year, another earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 struck Doti district near Jajarkot, claiming the lives of six people.
Indian social media users reported feeling the tremors of the earthquake in northern cities like Lucknow and Patna. A few hours after the initial earthquake, a 4.0 magnitude aftershock occurred in the same area, according to the US Geological Survey.
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