5.6-magnitude earthquake hits Nepal, rocks Delhi-NCR; 2nd in 3 days
Strong tremors were felt across North India, including Delhi and neighboring areas, on Monday after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal at around 4:14pm. The epicenter was reportedly in Ramidanda of Nepal's Jajarkot district. This is the second time in three days that Delhi and nearby areas have been rocked by tremors after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake on Friday jolted Nepal, killing at least 157 people.
Epicenter 233km away from Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya
Earthquake's depth was 10km
India's National Center for Seismology said the depth of the earthquake was 10km, with its epicenter around 233km north of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Many in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) reported feeling strong tremors. Videos on social media showed people rushing out of residential buildings and offices. Notably, neighboring Nepal is one of the world's most active tectonic zones, making it vulnerable to quakes.
Friday's quake damaged 8,000 houses
Numerous people are facing an uncertain future in Nepal as the earthquake has razed their homes. Many are in dire need of aid, and many, fearing further tremors, are sleeping outdoors despite temperatures plummeting in the Himalayan country. Officials said the quake damaged around 8,000 houses, both public and private. On Monday, India sent two truckloads of emergency relief materials to Nepal.
Multiple quakes hit Nepal since last month
Before the 6.4-magnitude quake on Friday, Nepal was hit by several other temblors within the last month. On October 3, multiple quakes rocked Nepal, the strongest measuring 6.2 magnitude on the Richter Scale, followed by a 5.3-magnitude quake on October 22.
2015 earthquake in Nepal claimed 9,000 lives
Nepal's Jajarkot and Rukum districts were the worst affected by the Friday quake. It is the worst to have hit the country since 2015's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which claimed around 9,000 lives and caused severe damage. Several historical sites, temples, and entire villages were reduced to rubble. Around a million homes were affected by the 2015 quake, which reportedly caused a $6 billion economic loss.
