Widespread Devastation and Over 150 Casualties in Nepal's Largest Earthquake
Over 150 people have tragically lost their lives, and approximately 400 others sustained injuries as a result of the most significant earthquake in western Nepal since 2015. Correspondents from CNN in Kathmandu have reported extensive destruction of residential homes and mountain roads.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 5.6 earthquake on the Richter scale struck on Friday, November 3, in the Karnali province, 500 kilometers west of Kathmandu. However, noticeable tremors were also felt in India, particularly in New Delhi. The most severely affected areas of this natural disaster are the remote regions of Jajarkot and Rukum West.
Efforts to evacuate some of the affected individuals to Kathmandu by air have been successful, but search and rescue operations in the region are ongoing. A precise assessment of the extent of the damage is still pending, but preliminary estimates suggest that residential buildings in several mountain villages in the affected region have suffered 90% destruction. Local authorities report that search and rescue operations are hampered by the loss of communication with certain settlements, as mountain roads have been blocked by massive landslides triggered by the earthquake.
On November 5, an emergency cabinet meeting is scheduled to address matters related to providing essential assistance and collaborating with neighboring countries willing to help resolve the humanitarian challenges of the region. Nepal's immediate neighbors, India and China, along with European humanitarian organizations, have already offered their support.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep condolences to the families of the earthquake victims on X (formerly known as Twitter). He stated,
"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families, and we wish the injured a quick recovery."
Severe earthquakes are a perennial issue in Nepal, situated at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, forming the Himalayan mountain range. In 2015, a previous powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 resulted in the loss of more than 9,000 lives and the destruction of nearly a million homes and structures across the country, causing an estimated $6 billion in damages.