On February 28, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck north of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre. The earthquake’s epicenter was around Bhairab Kunda in the Sindhupalchok District, close to the Himalayan mountain range along the border with Tibet.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences placed the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.6 with a depth of 10 kilometers, while the US Geological Survey recorded it as a magnitude 5.5 quake. Despite the differences in measurements, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties.
Pasang Nurpu Sherpa, chairman of the Bhote Koshi rural municipality where the epicenter is located, told Reuters, “I have no information of any damage so far. The earthquake has triggered a landslide at Dugunagadi Bhir across the river. There are no houses around the site of the landslide.”
Kiran Thapa, district governor of Sindhupalchok, reported that one inmate at the district jail broke his hand while trying to flee during the quake and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Additionally, a police post building in Kodari developed minor cracks.
Ganesh Nepali, a senior official of Sindhupalchok district, told Reuters, “It shook us from our sleep strongly. We rushed out of home. People have now returned back to homes. We have not received any report of damage or injuries so far.”
The earthquake has highlighted the vulnerability of the region, which has experienced significant seismic activity in the past, including the devastating earthquake in April 2015. As authorities continue to assess the situation, the residents of Sindhupalchok and surrounding areas remain on alert for potential aftershocks.