By Dwayne Ferreira.
A 5.3-magnitude Nepal earthquake struck Mustang as the country continues rescue operations after deadly floods and landslides.
KATHMANDU – A Nepal earthquake measuring magnitude 5.3 struck the country’s northwestern Mustang district on Tuesday night, deepening concern as rescue operations continue after catastrophic floods and landslides.
Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre recorded the tremor at 9.53 p.m. Its epicentre was near Lo Manthang in Mustang, around 375 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu.
Residents also felt tremors in neighbouring Manang, Dolpa and Myagdi districts.
Authorities reported no immediate casualties or significant structural damage after the earthquake.
Nepal earthquake follows catastrophic floods
The Nepal earthquake came as rescuers continued searching areas devastated by flooding triggered by an ice-and-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.
The disaster unleashed huge volumes of water, mud and debris downstream, destroying homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
More than 1,300 people have died across the wider affected region, while thousands remain missing. Rescue teams continue searching damaged communities and hydropower tunnels.
Meanwhile, authorities issued warnings after a landslide blocked the Kimrung River in Parbat district. Officials warned that accumulated water could cause further flooding downstream.
Residents in several nearby communities were advised to move to safer locations.
Nepal remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides, glacial hazards and extreme weather because it lies in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
