Current:Home > MarketsNepal earthquake kills at least 157 and buries families in rubble of collapsed homes-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Nepal earthquake kills at least 157 and buries families in rubble of collapsed homes
View Date:2024-12-23 18:25:06
Survivors of a strong earthquake that shook Nepal's northwest in the middle of the night described sudden shaking followed by houses collapsing and burying entire families, as the death toll rose to 157 on Saturday.
Most of those killed were crushed by debris when their houses — usually made by stacking rocks and logs — crumbled under the force of the tremblor midnight Friday, local media reported.
While rescuers were scrambling to rush aid, operations were hampered by the fact that many of the mountainous villages could only be reached by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear the blocked roads.
The government is trying to get as much aid to the affected areas, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Saturday. Tents, food and medicine were flown in as thousands became homeless overnight.
"I was fast asleep when all of a sudden it started shaking violently. I tried to run but the whole house collapsed. I tried escaping but half my body got buried in the debris," said Bimal Kumar Karki, one of the first people to be brought to the regional hospital.
"I screamed, but every one of my neighbors was in the same situation and screaming for help. It took nearly a half-hour to an hour before rescuers found me," he said.
Another injured man recovering in the hospital also described getting buried while he was asleep.
"I was asleep at night and around 10 or 11 at night it started shaking and the house caved. So many houses have collapsed and so many people have been buried," said Tika Ram Rana, who had his head wrapped in a white bandage.
Besides aid, rescuers were focused on finding survivors.
Local television aired footage of troops recovering bodies while others helped dig out and carry the injured.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 11 miles (18 kilometers). Nepal's National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center said its epicenter was at Jajarkot, which is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of the capital, Kathmandu.
In Jajarkot district, a mostly agricultural area, at least 105 people were confirmed dead while 52 were killed in the neighboring Rukum district, officials said. Another 184 were injured.
Security officials worked with villagers through the night to pull the dead and injured from fallen houses. The death toll was expected to rise as communications were still cut off in many places, authorities said.
At the regional hospital in the city of Nepalgunj, more than 100 beds were made available and teams of doctors stood by to help the injured.
Apart from rescue helicopters, small government and army planes able to land in the short mountain strips were also used to ferry the wounded to Nepalgunj.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal flew in on a helicopter with a team of doctors. Dahal had led an armed communist revolt in 1996-2006 that began in the districts that were hit by the quake.
The quake, which hit when many people were already asleep in their homes, was also felt in India's capital, New Delhi, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) away.
Earthquakes are common in mountainous Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 killed some 9,000 people and damaged about 1 million structures.
Neighboring India offered to help in the rescue efforts.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on social media that he was 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," he said.
In 2015, an earthquake in Nepal killed almost 9,000 people and devastated the country.
- In:
- nepal
- Earthquake
veryGood! (27)
Related
- Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
- California school district changes gender-identity policy after being sued by state
- Patrick Mahomes sent a congratulatory text. That's the power of Xavier Worthy's combine run
- What restaurants are open Easter 2024? McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster, more
- College Football Playoff ranking release: Army, Georgia lead winners and losers
- How Black women coined the ‘say her name’ rallying cry before Biden’s State of the Union address
- Man convicted of 2 killings in Delaware and accused of 4 in Philadelphia gets 7 life terms
- Inside 2024 Oscar Nominee Emma Stone's Winning Romance With Husband Dave McCary
- Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
- Virginia governor signs 64 bills into law, vetoes 8 others as legislative session winds down
Ranking
- Deion Sanders doubles down on vow to 99-year-old Colorado superfan
- Which movie should win the best picture Oscar? Our movie experts battle it out
- LSU's Angel Reese dismisses injury concerns after SEC Tournament win: 'I'm from Baltimore'
- Michigan residents urged not to pick up debris from explosive vaping supplies fire that killed 1
- US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
- Program that allows 30,000 migrants from 4 countries into the US each month upheld by judge
- Read the Pentagon UFO report newly released by the Department of Defense
- More cremated remains withheld from families found at funeral home owner’s house, prosecutors say
Recommendation
-
Some women are stockpiling Plan B and abortion pills. Here's what experts have to say.
-
Feds detail ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel's spending on 'life of luxury'
-
RNC votes to install Donald Trump’s handpicked chair as former president tightens control of party
-
Bracketology: Alabama tumbling down as other SEC schools rise in NCAA men's tournament field
-
The Daily Money: All about 'Doge.'
-
Economy added robust 275,000 jobs in February, report shows. But a slowdown looms.
-
Convicted killer Robert Baker says his ex-lover Monica Sementilli had no part in the murder of her husband Fabio
-
US judge rejects challenge to Washington state law that could hold gun makers liable for shootings