Nepal: A magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurs in Sudurpashchim Province Jan. 24

Event

A magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurred in Sudurpashchim Province in western Nepal at around 14:43 Jan. 24. The epicenter was about 63 km (39 miles) northwest of Jumla. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 25 km (16 miles), and moderate shaking was probably felt near the epicenter, as well as light shaking throughout much of western Nepal and parts of eastern Uttarakhand and northern Uttar Pradesh states in India and southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region in China. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; some damage to infrastructure is possible in the vicinity of the epicenter and the earthquake could trigger landslides on unstable slopes in the area. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light 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.