A devastating earthquake struck a remote area in northwestern Nepal overnight on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 157 lives and extensive damage to numerous buildings. Officials have also cautioned that the death toll may continue to rise.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.6, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and its epicenter was located approximately 42 kilometers (about 26 miles) from Jumla, Nepal, in Karnali province. Striking at a relatively shallow depth of 18 kilometers, the tremors were powerful enough to be felt as far away as India’s capital, New Delhi.
Nepal’s police spokesperson, Kuber Kadayat, informed CNN on Saturday that their primary focus at the moment is on search and rescue operations. Consequently, a precise assessment of the number of collapsed and damaged houses and infrastructure has not been determined. However, in certain villages, it’s estimated that up to 90% of houses have been devastated.
Kadayat confirmed that the earthquake has so far claimed the lives of 157 individuals and left 170 others injured, making it the deadliest tremor since 2015.
In the Jajarkot district, which is near the earthquake’s epicenter, 105 people were tragically confirmed dead, and an additional 55 sustained injuries. In the neighboring Rukum West district, 52 lost their lives, and 85 were injured, according to Kadayat’s report. A devastating earthquake
Heart-wrenching footage from Reuters revealed multiple houses reduced to piles of rubble and timber in Jajarkot, vividly illustrating the extensive destruction caused by the earthquake.