Nepal: Magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurs in Sanfebagar area, Achham District, Nov. 12

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred in Nepal's Sanfebagar municipality in Achham District, Sudurpashchim Province, at around 20:27 Nov. 12. The epicenter was about 25 km (16 miles) east of Dipayal. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and moderate shaking was reported throughout Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and northern and central Lumbini provinces in Nepal, far western Tibet Autonomous Region in China, as well as in parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh states in India that border Nepal. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, some damage is possible near the epicenter, especially as a 5.6-magnitude earthquake occurred in almost precisely the same location Nov. 9, resulting in some damage to buildings and at least six fatalities; some structures could therefore already have been weakened by that seismic event. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.