Nepal earthquake death toll rises, rescue work difficult due to landslides

Have rescue work after yesterday’s earthquake in northwestern Nepal has started. It is difficult for rescuers to get to the earthquake zone. Many of the affected villages are located in the mountains and can only be reached on foot. Roads are difficult to pass due to landslides. The army has been deployed to clear the roads as much as possible.

The death toll has risen to 157, local authorities say. Many victims lie under the rubble of their homes, which were built simply by stacking stones and tree trunks, local media report.

The government is now trying to get as much relief supplies to the area as possible, says Deputy Prime Minister Shreshta. This mainly consists of tents, food and medicine.

Images show that many houses have collapsed:

Meanwhile, the search for survivors continues. Images from a local news channel show bodies being pulled from the rubble and injured people being dug out and carried away.

Many people were already in bed when the magnitude 6.4 quake struck around midnight local time, Nepal’s seismological institute said.

Seismologists from the US had measured a magnitude of 5.6. The epicenter was about 400 kilometers from the capital Kathmandu in the city of Jajarkot. At least 105 people were killed in that city, 52 in neighboring Rukum. More than 180 people were injured.

Shortly after the earthquake, helicopters attempted to reach the affected areas to provide medical assistance to the victims. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal flew with a team of doctors.

Nepal often experiences severe earthquakes. In 2015, around 9,000 people were killed in a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

Yesterday’s quake could be felt as far away as the Indian capital New Delhi, about 500 kilometers west of Jajarkot. Indian Prime Minister Modi has expressed his condolences for the victims in neighboring Nepal.