Earthquake-prone Nepal is hit by another earthquake

This is the deadliest earthquake in Nepal in nearly ten years. At 11:47 p.m. local time, Friday, November 3, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey, struck the far west of the country, a particularly remote area.

This earthquake, whose epicenter is located not far from the border with Tibet, left at least 157 people dead, including 105 in the Jajarkot region and 52 in the western Rukum region. According to the latest assessment from the Nepalese authorities, on Saturday. Nearly 200 people were also injured.

The strength of the tremors was such that people felt them even in the Indian capital, New Delhi, which is located more than 500 kilometers from the epicenter. The National Center for Seismic Monitoring and Research in Nepal, which assessed the strength of the earthquake at 6.4, estimates that more than 150 aftershocks struck the affected areas during the day on Saturday.

When the ground began shaking shortly before midnight, most residents were asleep in their homes, many of which were of poor quality, built of stones, logs or even dirt. Pictures of the disaster show buildings that collapsed like houses of cards, with entire families buried underneath them. Thousands of buildings were destroyed, and most of the victims may have died under the rubble. In the two most affected areas, most of the damage occurred in areas where homes were built on sloping land.

Difficulty reaching disaster areas

“Most of the destroyed houses are located in Jajarkot and Rukum, and the geographical distance of the two areas and lack of communications make relief efforts difficult.”, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Saturday, November 4. In this mountainous region, many villages can only be reached on foot, and access to some devastated areas, such as Jajarkot, will be difficult. “Hindered by landslides caused by the earthquake.”The United Nations added.

Nepalese authorities ended their search for survivors on Sunday and continue to assist those who have already been recovered from the rubble. Many of them spent the night from Saturday to Sunday in the cold.

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal arrived in the affected area on Saturday. “The government is determined to help the victims and treat the wounded.”, He said. His Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said “deeply sad” He stressed that his country is ready “To provide all possible assistance”.

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