Nepal shaken by twin earthquakes minutes apart, strongest at 5.5 magnitude

Tremors felt in Surkhet, Dailekh & Kalikot; no casualties or major damage reported so far, officials say

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Western Nepal was struck by two moderate earthquakes in quick succession on Friday evening, with the strongest registering a magnitude of 5.5, according to the country’s National Earthquake Monitoring Centre.

The first tremor, measuring 5.2, struck Jajarkot district at 8:07 pm local time, followed just three minutes later by a stronger 5.5 magnitude quake at 8:10 pm. Both quakes were centred in the Panik area of Jajarkot, located around 525 km west of Kathmandu.

Tremors were widely felt across the region, including in Surkhet, Dailekh, and Kalikot districts. As of now, there are no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage.

Nepal, which lies along a seismically active fault zone, is no stranger to earthquakes. The Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge in the Himalayan region, making it highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

Dr Anita Sharma, a seismologist at the Indian Institute of Himalayan Geology, remarked: “While these earthquakes may not be directly related, they highlight the ongoing tectonic pressures beneath the Himalayas. This region requires continuous monitoring and preparedness.”

Authorities are currently assessing the situation on the ground and have urged local residents to remain alert as aftershocks remain possible in the coming hours and days.