A powerful earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck western Nepal on Friday night, killing at least 128 people and damaging several buildings, according to local media reports.
The earthquake occurred at 11:47 pm local time, with its epicenter in Jajarkot district of Karnali Province, the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center said. The quake was felt across Nepal and in parts of northern India, including the capital New Delhi.
The worst-hit areas were Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan districts, where dozens of people died and many houses collapsed, trapping people under the rubble. Local authorities and rescue teams are working to reach the affected areas and provide relief to the survivors.
The earthquake also triggered landslides and disrupted power and communication lines in some places. The government has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance.
Nepal is prone to earthquakes as it lies on the boundary of two tectonic plates, the Indian and the Eurasian. In 2015, a devastating earthquake of 7.8 magnitude killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000 in the country.
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