A devastating earthquake struck the region of Jajarkot in western Nepal on Friday evening, claiming the lives of at least 128 people while leaving dozens injured.
The tremors caused houses to collapse in the affected area and were felt even in nearby New Delhi, India.
The National Seismological Center of Nepal reported the quake to have a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale, marking it as the most severe seismic event since 2015 when two earthquakes resulted in around 9,000 fatalities in the Himalayan nation.
Those quakes turned entire cities, centuries-old temples, and other historical sites into rubble, destroying more than a million homes, and inflicting an economic loss estimated at $6 billion.
Officials fear the death toll from Friday's quake may rise as they have not yet established communication with the mountainous area near the epicenter, located 500 kilometers west of the capital Kathmandu, where residents also experienced tremors.
The region has a population of 190,000 with its villages spread across remote hills.
Harish Chandra Sharma, an official in Jajarkot, informed Reuters via phone, "The number of injured could reach hundreds and the deaths could also increase."
The police spokesperson disclosed that 92 people were killed in Jajarkot and 36 in the neighboring western area of Rukum, both in the Karnali province.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal traveled to the affected area early on Saturday, accompanied by a 16-member military medical team, to oversee the search, rescue, and relief operations.
In a post on a platform, he expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of lives and property due to the earthquake, instructing security agencies to initiate rescue and relief operations immediately.
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