The seismic event, occurring at 11:47 p.m. on Friday, registered a magnitude of 6.4 according to Nepal's National Seismological Centre. Conflicting measurements from other sources like the German Research Centre for Geosciences and the U.S. Geological Survey ranged from 5.6 to 5.7.
The devastating quake is the most lethal since the 2015 earthquakes that claimed around 9,000 lives in Nepal, causing extensive destruction to towns, ancient temples, and historic sites. The economic cost was immense, with over a million houses destroyed and an estimated $6 billion impact on the country's economy.
Officials expressed concerns about the rising death toll as communication remained hampered in the hilly region near the epicenter, about 300 miles west of Kathmandu. Harish Chandra Sharma, an official in Jajarkot district, anticipated the number of injuries to be in the hundreds, and the death toll to potentially increase.
Reports from police spokespeople indicated that 92 individuals lost their lives in Jajarkot and 36 in the neighboring Rukum West district. Both areas fall under Karnali province, with the epicenter identified in the village of Ramidanda.
Search and rescue efforts faced challenges due to blocked roads from landslides triggered by the quake. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal mobilized a 16-member army medical team for search, rescue, and relief operations in the affected area.
Reports and visual media showcased scenes of widespread destruction, with collapsed buildings and panicked residents evacuating their homes. People spent the night in open spaces due to fears of aftershocks, as many structures were compromised by the quake.
Efforts to clear blocked roads and provide immediate aid to the affected areas were underway, while the Prime Minister expressed sorrow over the loss of life and instructed security agencies to swiftly initiate rescue and relief operations. (ILKHA)