Rescuers strive to find Nepal earthquake survivors

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04th Nov, 2023. 02:58 pm
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Rescuers strive to find Nepal earthquake survivors.
The earthquake struck the Jajarkot region in western Nepal at 11:47 p.m.
Numerous buildings have sustained severe structural damage.

Rescue teams initiated the arduous task of manually sifting through the debris of collapsed buildings in Nepal on Saturday, searching for survivors following the country’s most devastating earthquake in eight years, which claimed the lives of 137 people and triggered tremors as far away as New Delhi.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, struck the Jajarkot region in western Nepal at 11:47 p.m. (1802 GMT) on Friday, as reported by Nepal’s National Seismological Centre.

However, the German Research Centre for Geosciences recorded it as 5.7, and the U.S. Geological Survey as 5.6.

Initial responders only reached the hilly area near the epicenter, situated about 500 km (300 miles) west of Kathmandu, on Saturday morning, leading to concerns that the death toll could rise. Jajarkot district official Harish Chandra Sharma expressed that the number of injured individuals might reach the hundreds, with the potential for more fatalities.

The relatively moderate magnitude of the earthquake does not fully reflect the extensive damage and high casualty count, mainly attributed to the poor quality of construction in the region and the fact that the quake struck while people were sleeping.

Rescue operations are expected to progress slowly due to the need to clear blocked roads caused by landslides in various locations. Helicopters and small aircraft have been put on standby to assist in the relief efforts.

This earthquake is the deadliest since 2015 when two earthquakes claimed the lives of approximately 9,000 people. Those events destroyed entire towns, centuries-old temples, and other historic sites, with over a million houses left in ruins, inflicting an economic cost of $6 billion.

Officials have reported that 99 people lost their lives in Jajarkot, and 38 in the neighboring Rukum West district, both located in Karnali province.

The epicenter was situated in the village of Ramidanda. In Jajarkot, three towns and three villages have been confirmed as being affected, within a population of 190,000 spread across remote hills.

Numerous buildings have either collapsed or sustained severe structural damage, and many residents spent the night outdoors in open spaces, fearing aftershocks.

The situation prompted widespread evacuations, with rescuers seen digging through the rubble with their bare hands, and injured individuals being transported to hospitals by rescue helicopters.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal traveled to the affected area on Saturday with a 16-member army medical team to oversee search, rescue, and relief efforts.

His office has issued an appeal to political parties, social workers, and the public to contribute funds to provide essentials like food, water, clothing, and tents for the survivors.

The relief efforts continue, with the determination to assist those affected by this devastating earthquake in Nepal despite challenges.

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Rescuers strive to find Nepal earthquake survivors

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