Nepal hit by another earthquake

Monday, November 6, 2023

Nepal has been hit by another powerful earthquake, adding to the woes of a country already reeling from a significant quake just days earlier.

This latest earthquake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, struck the region, raising concerns about the possibility of further casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The initial earthquake, with a magnitude ranging from 5.6 to 6.4, occurred in Jajarkot, approximately 500 kilometers west of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. It was reported to be felt in neighboring India as well. The hilly terrain near the epicenter has made it challenging for authorities to establish contact, causing concerns that the death toll from the earlier quake may rise.

The search and rescue operations have been hampered by landslides triggered by the earthquakes, blocking access roads to affected areas. In addition, thousands of buildings in Jajarkot and the neighboring Rukum West district have either collapsed or developed severe structural damage, rendering them uninhabitable. Eyewitnesses described hearing the sounds of buildings collapsing soon after the earthquake struck.

Local media coverage has shown images of crumbled multi-story brick houses, with furniture strewn about and people evacuating buildings. The 2015 earthquake remains fresh in the memory of the Nepalese people, as it was a catastrophic event that resulted in the loss of about 9,000 lives and the destruction of whole towns, historic sites, and numerous buildings, leaving a significant economic impact. This latest earthquake is a stark reminder of the seismic risks that the region faces, and it underscores the need for disaster preparedness and mitigation measures in Nepal and neighboring areas susceptible to earthquakes.

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