According to local media reports, strong tremors were felt in various parts of Taiwan, prompting Taipei’s metro system to halt operations…reports Asian Lite News
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake jolted the sea area near Hualien of Taiwan at 7:58 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
A red alert for tsunami has been issued after the earthquake.
The epicentre was monitored at 23.81 degrees north latitude and 121.74 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 12 km, said a report issued by the CENC.
According to local media reports, strong tremors were felt in various parts of Taiwan, prompting Taipei’s metro system to halt operations.
Taiwan’s meteorological agency reported that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 7:58 a.m. Wednesday, with a depth of 15.5 km. The epicentre was located 25 km south-southeast of the Hualien county government. The maximum intensity recorded was 6 magnitude in Hualien County, Xinhua news agency reported.
The quake was followed by aftershocks, with CENC reporting two quakes measuring 6.0 and 5.9 magnitudes respectively within around 40 minutes, with epicenters monitored in nearby areas.
Local media reports showed that the water supply has been cut in a total of 16 cities and towns in the quake-hit Noto region…reports Asian Lite News
Amid continued aftershocks and reports of additional damages, the death toll due to a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa earlier this week, increased to 64 on Wednesday, with search and rescue efforts currently underway.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Noto Peninsula at 10:54 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday at a depth of 10 km, reports Xinhua news agency.
On Tuesday at at 5:13 p.m, the JMA said a 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the Noto Peninsula at 5:13 p.m. local time on Tuesday at a depth of 10 km, measuring upper 5.
Since the massive earthquakes, with the strongest one measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on Monday, the region has witnessed at least 155 temblors.
The JMA has also lifted all tsunami advisories along the Sea of Japan following the quake, but weather officials warned that strong aftershocks may occur in the week, especially over the next two to three days.
Meanwhile, a total of 57,360 people evacuated in 955 locations across quake-affected Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told mediapersons.
Local media reports showed that the water supply has been cut in a total of 16 cities and towns in the quake-hit Noto region.
Approximately 1,000 Self-Defense Force officers have arrived at the disaster area to carry out rescue operations.
The JMA said the earthquake, which measured the country’s maximum seismic intensity of 7, recorded a maximum three-component vector sum peak ground acceleration of 28,266 gals.
The figure is comparable to the 29,334 gals recorded in Kuriyama city, Miyagi prefecture, which also experienced a top-intensity quake during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
It is generally assumed that the greater the acceleration, the larger the shaking and damage, but other factors, such as the duration of the shaking, also play a role, said the JMA.
Injuries were reported in the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui, Toyama, and Gifu.
Bajhang, Oct 03 (ANI): A portion of the building gets collapsed after 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal, in Bajhang on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha announced the completion of the search and rescue operation, with the focus shifting towards relief operations…reports Asian Lite News
The Nepal government completed the search and rescue operation on Sunday after a strong earthquake on Friday rattled nine districts, killing over 150 people and damaging infrastructure.
During a visit to the earthquake-affected district, Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha announced the completion of the search and rescue operation, with the focus shifting towards relief operations.
“No one is missing in the search and rescue operation.We have provided proper treatment to all the injured. From today, our focus will shift to those who have lost their homes, whether they are permanently damaged or cracked. We must provide them with tarpaulin, mattresses, blankets, and food,” Shrestha told ANI after holding discussions with concerned officials at Jajarkot.
“From today on, we enter the phase of relief efforts; relief materials are being distributed, and the District Disaster Management Committee, through the local representatives, will distribute the relief materials,” he added.
Shrestha mentioned that reconstruction and rehabilitation would follow the relief distribution. The November 3 earthquake, whose magnitude was 6.4 on the Richter Scale, stands second after the 2015 earthquake that claimed nearly 10,000 lives and damaged properties worth billions.
Despite spending eight years, Nepal has yet to build itself back to the pre-earthquake phase.
Looking at the past, hopes are fading for the victims of the recent earthquake that they would get a new home with government support anytime soon.
While the government has announced relief provisions for the families of the deceased, it currently lacks detailed plans for reconstruction. The opposition has called on the government to expedite preparations for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected districts and intends to raise the issue in the federal parliament.
“We will raise the issue from all sides to rebuild the damages that have been incurred. We will certainly put pressure on the government on the issue. As the aid has continued to pour in various forms, this would certainly help in reconstruction works,” Basudev Ghimire, a Member of Parliament from the opposition CPN-UML told ANI.
The council of ministers, meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, has decided to provide immediate shelter, food, and safety to displaced families and offer $1,500 to the families of those killed in the earthquake as immediate relief.
“Jajarkot, the epicenter of the earthquake, has suffered the highest number of casualties, with 105 people killed. Traditional houses in the area now lie in ruins and rubble. The earthquake, which struck just before midnight, mainly claimed the lives of children and the elderly,”Harish Chandra Sharma, Administrative Officer of Jajarkot told.
“Rescue operations, including helicopter mobilization, were carried out in some remote areas. As of the latest data, 105 people lost their lives, and 115 people were injured, with many of them already recovering and critically injured individuals receiving treatment in well-equipped hospitals in Nepalgunj and Surkhet,” he added.
On Sunday evening, at nightfall, the locals of Khalanga spread the tarpaulin far and wide to protect themselves from the dew and chilling cold.
The November 3 earthquake which rattled the impoverished hilly district of Jajarkot has damaged 937 houses, while about three thousand have sustained damages, yet to be labelled safe to stay or not.
Displaced residents are using tarpaulins as temporary shelter, providing protection from the chilling cold but the worst is yet to come. (By Binod Prasad Adhikari/ANI)
The government has mobilised the Nepal Army, Nepali Sentinel, and the Armed Police Force to conduct rescue operations via helicopters…reports Asian Lite News
In the wake of a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal, the nation grapples with the aftermath as the death toll climbs to 157. Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, assessed the situation while the government rushed to provide relief, the Nepal PM Secretariat said.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, on Saturday visited the affected regions, acknowledging the extensive damage. In response, the government has mobilised the Nepal Army, Nepali Sentinel, and the Armed Police Force to conduct rescue operations via helicopters.
Health workers are also being rapidly deployed, equipped with essential medical supplies sourced from surrounding districts.
Houses were reduced to rubble after the 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, in Bheri, Jajarkot. (ANI Photo)
“There has been a lot of damage in the earthquake-affected area. Hundreds of people are injured, thousands of houses have been destroyed, and our government is engaged in relief work. We have deployed the Nepali Army, Nepali Sentinel. The Armed Police Force has been given the responsibility of taking all the injured to the hospitals for rescue through helicopters,” said the Nepal PM.
Prime Minister Dahal has conveyed the government’s dedication to relief efforts, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “Health workers are also reaching the spot by taking health equipment from the surrounding districts through helicopters. We have also rescued our own injured with our helicopters. Our government is doing the work that should be done for today and tomorrow. Tomorrow we have called a Cabinet meeting along with a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee,” he added.
The scale of injuries has overwhelmed the region, with a continuous queue of ambulances outside Bheri Hospital in the nearby district of Nepalganj, where injured individuals are being admitted every few seconds.
The visuals from Surkhet Province Hospital showed dedicated healthcare professionals offering treatment to those affected by the earthquake.
“We have 26 victims here. There are injuries like – head injuries, abdominal injuries, chest injuries, and leg injuries…We have manpower also… We are prepared. We are ready. The judgment team is very active…,” the Public Health Inspector of Surkhet Province Hospital told ANI.
Efforts are also underway to provide medical assistance, with security personnel actively involved in transporting the injured to the TV Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, Nepal Home Ministry’s spokesman, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, said that a meeting was convened in Kathmandu by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister to address the crisis.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister held a meeting in Kathmandu over the earthquake that hit the country. A few decisions were taken in the meeting. Decisions were also made to resume the electricity supply and communication system. Nepal Telecom has been ordered to make its services free for the coming 5 days in the affected areas,” he said.
OP Mishra, the Director of the National Center for Seismology (NCS), emphasised the critical role that building structures played in the severity of the earthquake’s impact.
“The intensity in Nepal was very strong, but when it came to Delhi it was reduced. Intensity is the degree of sitting, but magnitude 6.4 is the content of energy. Earthquakes do not kill people; it is the structure that kills people,” Mishra told ANI.
Government officials have been directed to deploy ambulances near the helipad of Nepalgunj Airport and military barracks to ensure swift medical assistance to those in need.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extensive damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal. PM Modi offered support to Nepal and expressed India’s willingness to extend all possible assistance.
Gurukul School Of Art Students make paintings and pay tribute to victims who lost their lives in the Nepal Earthquake, in Mumbai. (ANI Photo)
The earthquake’s impact has not been confined to Nepal alone. Tremors were felt in several districts of North India, including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. (ANI)
PM Modi’s statement comes after 128 people died and at least 141 people were injured after a strong earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolted Nepal in the late hours of Friday,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he is “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives and damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal. PM Modi offered support to Nepal and expressed India’s willingness to extend all possible assistance.
Taking to X, PM Modi stated, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery.”
PM Modi’s statement comes after 128 people died and at least 141 people were injured after a strong earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolted Nepal in the late hours of Friday, The Kathmandu Post reported. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has left for earthquake-affected areas.
As per reports at 3 am (local time) on Saturday, Jajarkot and West Rukum have suffered the most damage, with 92 deaths just reported in Jajarkot, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Jajarkot district Santosh Roka, The Kathmandu Post reported. The victims include Nalgad Municipality Deputy Mayor Sarita Singh, Roka said.
As many as 44 people have died and 70 others have been injured in the district’s Ramidanda of the Barekot Rural Municipality, according to the Karnali Province Police, according to The Kathmandu Post report.
Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery. @cmprachanda
More than 55 people have been injured in Jajarkot. Of them, five have been taken to the Karnali Province Hospital in Surkhet while the others have been undergoing treatment at various medical institutes in the district.
Meanwhile, the death toll in West Rukum has reached 36, Deputy Superintendent of Police of West Rukum district Namaraj Bhattarai said citing preliminary data, according to The Kathmandu Post report. As many as 36 people were reported dead in Aathbiskot Municipality and eight others died in Sanibheri Rural Municipality.
The number of those injured in West Rukum has reached 85. Preparations are being made to air evacuate one person, who has sustained serious injuries, while the others are receiving treatment at the district hospital, Chaurjahari Hospital, and other health clinics.
Bheri, Nalgad, Kushe, Barekot and Chedagad have been severely hit by the earthquake in Jajarkot district. Chief District Officer Suresh Sunar said all the security forces in the district have been mobilised in the search and rescue work.
Bheri Hospital, Kohalpur Medical College, Nepalgunj Military Hospital and Police Hospital have been made dedicated hospitals. All the heli operators of Nepal have been asked to be on standby and instructions have been given to cancel regular flights and evacuate the injured from earthquake-affected areas to other regions.
Officials have been asked to deploy ambulances at all times near the helipad of Nepalgunj Airport and military barracks.
Earlier, Dahal expressed grief over the human and material damage caused by the earthquake and said he has mobilised three security agencies for the immediate rescue and relief of the injured.
Taking to X, the Nepal Prime Minister’s Office stated, “Honorable Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has expressed his deep sorrow over the human and material damage caused by the earthquake at Ramidanda in Jajarkot at 11:47 on Friday night and has mobilized all 3 security agencies for the immediate rescue and relief of the injured.”
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the magnitude of the earthquake on the Richter Scale was recorded at 6.4 and the epicentre of the quake was in Nepal at a depth of 10 km. The tremors of the earthquake were also felt in several districts of North India including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. (ANI)
According to local residents, most of the injured have been taken to hospital from Rubat Sangi district, reports Xinhua news agency…reports Asian Lite News
Just five days after a massive earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Herat province killing more than 2,000 people, another temblor measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the same region on Wednesday, injuring 80 persons.
According to local residents, most of the injured have been taken to hospital from Rubat Sangi district, reports Xinhua news agency.
The epicente of the quake which struck at around 5.10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, is 28 km north of the city of Herat.
The fresh quake comes as rescuers are still digging for survivors of the powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Zindajan, a rural district some 40 km (25 miles) from Herat city, on October 7.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “100 per cent of homes are estimated to have been completely destroyed” , while some villages were totally flattened.
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes — especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
The AI, developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, was trained to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data that researchers had paired with previous earthquakes…reports Asian Lite News
Researchers have developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that correctly predicted 70 per cent of earthquakes a week before they happened during a seven-month trial in China, raising hopes that the technology could one day be used to limit earthquakes’ impact on lives and economies.
The AI, developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, was trained to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data that researchers had paired with previous earthquakes.
The outcome was a weekly forecast in which the AI successfully predicted 14 earthquakes within about 200 miles of where it estimated they would happen and at almost exactly the calculated strength. It missed one earthquake and gave eight false warnings.
It’s not yet known if the same approach will work at other locations, but the effort is a milestone in research for AI-driven earthquake forecasting. “Predicting earthquakes is the holy grail,” said Sergey Fomel, Professor in UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology.
“We’re not yet close to making predictions for anywhere in the world, but what we achieved tells us that what we thought was an impossible problem is solvable in principle.” The findings from the trial are published in the journal Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.
“You don’t see earthquakes coming,” said Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the bureau’s Texas Seismological Network Programme (TexNet) — the state’s seismic network. “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with 70 per cent, that’s a huge result and could help minimise economic and human losses and has the potential to dramatically improve earthquake preparedness worldwide.”
The researchers said that their method had succeeded by following a relatively simple machine learning approach. The AI was given a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics, then told to train itself on a five-year database of seismic recordings.
Once trained, the AI gave its forecast by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes among the background rumblings in the Earth. The researchers are confident that in places with robust seismic tracking networks such as California, Italy, Japan, Greece, Turkey and Texas, the AI could improve its success rate and narrow its predictions to within a few tens of miles.
Two strong earthquakes of magnitudes 6.2 and 4.6 struck Nepal and the tremors were felt across large parts of India…reports Asian Lite News
Many people, especially office-goers, were spotted rushing out of their workplaces after strong tremors from earthquakes epicentered in Nepal shook the national capital and adjoining areas.
Two strong earthquakes of magnitudes 6.2 and 4.6 struck Nepal on Tuesday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported, adding that the tremors were felt across large parts of India.
Video clips accessed by ANI from Lucknow and Dehradun showed harried employees milling outside their workplaces after the tremors struck.
Similar clips circulating on social media showed people anxiously speaking over their phones, enquiring about the safety of their loved ones, relatives and friends.
As soon as the tremors were felt in the national capital, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, along with other officials rushed out of Nirman Bhawan as seen in a video accessed by ANI.
Arvind Kejriwal posted on X, “Strong earthquake tremors have also been felt in Delhi. I hope you all are safe”.
“Hey, Delhi people! We hope you all are safe. Please come out of your buildings to a safe spot, but do not panic. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS! For any emergency help, dial 112,” Delhi Police posted on X.
At the ANI office in Delhi, the employees headed for the exit and gathered downstairs as the tremors struck.
The two tremors were felt less than half an hour of each other. The first quake occured at 14:25:52 IST, followed by another at 14:51:04 IST.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:4.6, Occurred on 03-10-2023, 14:25:52 IST, Lat: 29.37 & Long: 81.22, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal,” the NCS posted on X.
The depth of first quake (4.6 magnitude) was found to be 10 km whereas of the second (6.2 magnitude) was 5 km.
While a few houses in Nepal were reported to be damaged in the tremors, there were no casualties at the time of filing this report.
Bajhang, Oct 03 (ANI): A portion of the building gets collapsed after 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal, in Bajhang on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Two aftershocks
The National Centre for Seismology said they have recorded two aftershocks after two earthquakes of magnitude 6.2 and 4.6 struck Western Nepal, a zone near Uttarakhand, in quick succession on Tuesday afternoon.
The earth-quake monitoring nodal agency further informed that tremors were reported from Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
Sanjay Kumar Prajapati, scientist at National Centre for Seismology told ANI, “The earthquake hit western Nepal, which is a zone near our Uttarakhand region…This was a 6.2 magnitude earthquake at a shallow depth of 5 km. We have recorded two aftershocks…In the Delhi region, the magnitude was 3…”
“We have received responses from people that it was felt in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Lucknow region, and Jaipur region. A few people in the Ahmedabad region are also telling us that they felt it there…” the official said.
Two earthquakes of magnitude 6.2 and 4.6 on the Richter Scale struck Nepal on Tuesday, with tremors felt in large parts of India, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported.
The two tremors were felt within less than half an hour time. The first quake occured at 14:25:52 IST, followed by another at 14:51:04 IST.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:4.6, Occurred on 03-10-2023, 14:25:52 IST, Lat: 29.37 & Long: 81.22, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal,” the NCS wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The depth of the first quake (4.6 magnitude) was found to be 10 km whereas the second (6.2 magnitude) was found to be 5 km.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:6.2, Occurred on 03-10-2023, 14:51:04 IST, Lat: 29.39 & Long: 81.23, Depth: 5 Km ,Location:Nepal,” the posted on X.
No casualties or damages have been reported as of yet. (ANI)
According to the World Health Organization estimates, the disaster has affected more than 300,000 people in the ancient old city and its outskirts…reports Asian Lite News
At least 2,122 people have been killed and 2,421 injured since a massive earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night, according to the latest update from the Moroccan Interior Ministry.
The deaths include 1,351 people reported in the Al Haouz Province, 492 in Taroudant Province, 201 in Chichaoua, and 17 in Marrakesh, added the ministry in a press release on Sunday.
Moroccan troops and emergency services were reportedly struggling to reach the most affected areas in the Atlas Mountains region, as roads leading up there were blocked by fallen boulders, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local media.
Earlier in the day, Marrakesh’s residents told reporters that aftershocks could still be felt.
According to the World Health Organization estimates, the disaster has affected more than 300,000 people in the ancient old city and its outskirts.
The number of casualties is expected to rise. The Moroccan Red Crescent (MRC) has said the situation on the ground posed a vast challenge to search and rescue efforts, and “getting heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority”.
As more people were being pulled out of the rubble, the MRC and other first responders were working around the clock to identify and prioritize the most severe cases, the MRC said in a statement.
The earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
Rescuers Scramble to Find Survivors
Rescuers are racing against time to search for survivors after a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc in central Morocco.
The strong tremor, which struck the ancient city of Marrakesh on Friday night, has killed more than 2,000 people.
Rescuers on Sunday were seen struggling to reach the most affected areas in the Atlas Mountains region as roads leading up there were blocked by fallen boulders, Xinhua news agency reported.
Makeshift tents were pitched up to shelter local residents, who had spent two nights outdoors for fear of more aftershocks.
“We need food and cover, they are the most important to us for now,” Amin, without giving his full name, told the news agency.
He added that being stranded outdoors for another cold night was particularly difficult for elders and the children.
The earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
The death toll has risen to 2,012, among whom 1,293 were reported in Al Haouz and 452 were in the Taroudant Province. The quake left some 2,059 people injured, with 1,404 in severe condition, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said in its latest update.
The World Health Organization estimated that more than 300,000 people in Marrakesh and its outskirts were affected by the disaster.
The quake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale hit Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range on Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km…reports Asian Lite News
The death toll from a strong earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night has surpassed 2,000, according to country’s interior ministry.
“There is destruction everywhere,” Eyewitnesses near the High Atlas mountains were quoted as saying by CNN
According to USGS, the temblor was the most deadliest to hit the North African country in decades.
The quake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale hit Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range on Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km.
The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca. Many houses collapsed in the cities of Taroudant and Marrakesh, local media reported.
Xinhua correspondents at Ouarzazate, about 190 km southeast of Marrakesh, saw residents taking shelter in an open space after the earthquake.
“There have been earthquakes before, but none of them were as strong as this one,” said a resident in Ouarzazate who requires anonymity.
The earthquake damaged many buildings in the old city of Marrakesh, the nearest big city to the epicenter, and many residents had to spend the night in the open space for fear of potential aftershocks, said Zhang Kai, an overseas Chinese living in Marrakesh.
Germany President released a statement on Saturday, sending “heartfelt condolences for lives lost.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday with “heartfelt condolences” to everyone affected by the quake.
Global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, France’s Emanuel Macron, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, extended their condolences to Morocco.
