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Description of the crisis
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot District on 3 November 2023 at 11:47 local time. The epicentre was located in Ramidanda in Jajarkot district. As of 21 November 2023, 154 people (101 in Jajarkot and 53 in Rukum West) have lost their lives and 366 were reported injured. This data was revised by the Ministry of Home Affairs from 157 to 154 as there was double counting in Jajarkot District. According to the data of Ministry of Home Affairs around 62 thousand houses in 11 districts of three provinces namely Karnali, Sudur Paschim and Lumbini. Out of which Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan Districts were worst affected by the earthquake with reported death cases and loss of physical properties including private houses worth millions of Nepalese Rupees.
This is the largest earthquake to impact Nepal since the 7.3M earthquake in 2015, and it is the latest in a series of earthquakes to hit western Nepal in the past year; Jajarkot, Doti, Bajura, Bajhang, Darchula, Achham and Dolpa are among the districts in western Nepal affected by various earthquakes since November 2022. The impact of this latest earthquake is thus compounding the difficulties and vulnerabilities of communities still recovering from previous shocks, in areas with low socio-economic indicators. Many of the earthquake-affected areas – including Jajarkot, Rukum, Dailekh, Salyan and Achham – experience significant seasonal labour migration of men, with mostly women and children remaining in local communities.