A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck north of Nepal’s Kathmandu on Friday, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre. The tremor’s epicenter was around Bhairab Kunda in Sindhupalchok District, near the Himalayan mountain range along the Tibet border.
Seismological agencies recorded varying magnitudes for the quake. While Germany’s Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) measured it at 5.6 magnitude with a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported it at 5.5 magnitude.
Minor Injuries and a Landslide Reported
Officials have not received reports of significant damage or casualties. However, Pasang Nurpu Sherpa, chairman of Bhote Koshi rural municipality, confirmed that the quake triggered a landslide at Dugunagadi Bhir across the river, though no houses were affected.
In Sindhupalchok, an inmate at the district jail broke his hand while attempting to flee, according to district governor Kiran Thapa. Additionally, a police post in Kodari developed minor cracks due to the tremors.
Eyewitnesses described the powerful shaking, with Ganesh Nepali, a senior official of Sindhupalchok district, saying, “It shook us from our sleep strongly. We rushed out of our home, but people have now returned.”
(With Reuters input)