WORLD NEWS

Deadly quake strikes Nepal, toppling homes and killing at least 157 people

Nov 6, 2023, 8:34 AM

This handout photo provided by Nepal's Prime Minister's Office shows an earthquake-affected area in...

This handout photo provided by Nepal's Prime Minister's Office shows an earthquake-affected area in northwestern Nepal, Saturday, November 4, 2023. (Nepal Prime Minister's Office/AP)

(Nepal Prime Minister's Office/AP)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) — At least 157 people have been killed in an earthquake that struck a remote part of northwestern Nepal overnight on Friday and toppled multiple buildings, according to police, as officials warned that the death toll could rise.

The quake measured magnitude 5.6 according to the United States Geological Survey and hit some 42 kilometers (about 26 miles) from Jumla, Nepal, in Karnali province. It struck at a comparatively shallow depth of 18 kilometers and the tremors could be felt as far away as India’s capital, New Delhi.

“We are only focused on search and rescue operation right now,” Nepal police spokesperson Kuber Kadayat told CNN Saturday. “That’s why we don’t yet have a proper estimate of collapsed and damaged houses and other infrastructure. There are some villages where an estimated 90% of houses have collapsed.”

According to Kadayat, 157 people have so far been confirmed killed and 170 injured, making Friday’s tremor the deadliest since 2015.

In Jajarkot district, close to the quake’s epicenter, 105 people were confirmed dead and another 55 injured. In nearby Rukum West district, 52 were killed and 85 injured, Kadayat said.

Footage from Reuters showed multiple houses reduced to smashed piles of bricks and timber in Jajarkot.

Earthquakes are common in Nepal, which lies where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet to create the towering Himalayan mountain range.

At least 9,000 people were killed in 2015 when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit, damaging some one million homes and buildings across swathes of the nation and causing $6 billion in damage.

Officials told Reuters that they feared casualties would rise in Friday’s quake because they had not been able to establish contact in the hilly area near the epicenter, some 500 kilometers (300 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu, where tremors were also felt.

“The number of injured could be in the hundreds and the deaths could go up as well,” Jajarkot district official Harish Chandra Sharma told Reuters by phone.

“Many houses have collapsed, many others have developed cracks. Thousands of residents spent the entire night in cold, open grounds because they were too scared to go into the cracked houses as aftershocks struck,” Sharma added.

Jajarkot district has a population of 190,000 with villages scattered in remote hills. Pictures released by AFP news agency showed survivors gathering at Jajarkot’s main hospital.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed in the earthquake.

“Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal,” Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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.”


This is a developing story and will be updated. 

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

World News

The Consul General of Israel, Israel Bachar (middle), meeting with two of Utah leaders...

Erin Cox

Consul general of Israel visits Utah, believes Beehive State can help Israel’s future

The Consul General of Israel, Israel Bachar, paid Utah leaders a visit this week, but his focus was not on the conflict alone.

3 hours ago

Israeli military tanks roll near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 5, amid continuing batt...

Natasha Bertrand, MJ Lee, Alex Marquardt and Oren Liebermann, CNN

US officials think Gaza ground operation could end by January

US officials expect the current phase of Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza targeting the southern end of the strip to last several weeks before Israel transitions, possibly by January.

1 day ago

Mount Marapi volcano spews volcanic ash as seen from Nagari Batu Palano in Agam, West Sumatra provi...

Heather Chen, Jamal Jamaluddin and Manveena Suri, CNN

13 climbers killed, 10 missing following Indonesian volcano eruption

Thirteen climbers have died and another 10 are missing in Indonesia following the eruption of a highly active volcano.

1 day ago

FILE - Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young speaks about the possible government...

Zeke Miller, AP White House Correspondent

White House warns funding for Ukraine is running out

The Biden administration is sending Congress an urgent warning about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine.

2 days ago

Families and friends of hostages held in Gaza call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to...

MJ Lee and Alex Marquardt, CNN

Fate of American hostages up in the air with little prospect of stalled hostage talks resuming soon

The negotiations over the release of additional hostages from Gaza that broke down early Friday appear highly unlikely to resume any time soon, multiple senior administration officials told CNN.

2 days ago

File - The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company w...

EU AI

Europe’s world-leading artificial intelligence rules are facing a do-or-die moment

Hailed as a world first, European Union artificial intelligence rules are facing a make-or-break moment as negotiators try to hammer out the final details this week — talks complicated by the sudden rise of generative AI that produces human-like work.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

Deadly quake strikes Nepal, toppling homes and killing at least 157 people