Days after devastating floods and landslides battered parts of Nepal, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s northwestern Mustang district on Tuesday night, with tremors felt in neighbouring districts.
The earthquake occurred at 9.53 pm, with its epicentre at Lomanthang in Mustang, around 375 km northwest of Kathmandu, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Tremors were also felt in Manang, Dolpa and Myagdi districts.
Nepal has been recovering from floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in recent days, which disrupted road connectivity and caused deaths and damage in several parts of the country. The latest earthquake added to concerns in a country highly vulnerable to both seismic activity and extreme weather events.
Authorities were assessing the situation following Tuesday night’s tremor.
In a separate incident, the Kimrung River in Parbat district of Gandaki Province has been blocked due to a landslide, prompting the downstream communities all the way to the Kaligandaki confluence to remain on high alert.
 Issuing a notice at 8 pm Tuesday, the Flood Forecasting Division said that there is a risk of flooding due to the blockage of the Kimrung River.
The Kimrung River in Parbat is a tributary of the Modi River.
The division has urged people living in Nayapul, Birethanti and surrounding settlements in the lower coastal area to move to safer areas.
Source: New Indian Express
--Agencies
