KATHMANDU, Nepal—The National Emergency Operation Center stated Saturday that the death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit Nepal's northwest has increased to 157.
According to local media, the majority of those murdered were crushed by rubble when their dwellings, which were often built by stacking rocks and logs, collapsed under the power of the tremblor around midnight Friday.
While rescuers sent desperately needed help to the damaged region, activities were complicated by the fact that many of the steep settlements could only be reached on foot. Roads were also closed due to landslides caused by the earthquake. Soldiers were spotted attempting to remove the blocked highways.
The administration is attempting to get as much relief as possible to the impacted districts, said Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Saturday. As hundreds of people became homeless overnight, tents, food, and medication were airlifted in.
Officials indicated that, in addition to providing relief, rescuers are working on finding survivors.
“The priority is to find the survivors and take them to hospital,” said regional police chief, Bhim Dhakal.
Local television showed troops collecting remains as others dug out and carried the injured.
The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 11 miles, according to the US Geological Survey. According to Nepal's National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center, the epicenter occurred near Jajarkot, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of Kathmandu.
At least 105 people were reported killed in the Jajarkot district, which is primarily agricultural, and 52 in the nearby Rukum district, according to authorities. Another 184 people were hurt.
Security authorities worked with residents all night in the dark to extract the dead and injured from collapsed houses.
Authorities predicted that the death toll would grow as communications remained disrupted in many areas.
Doctors and medical personnel were rushed to the affected areas, where hospitals were overcrowded with injured people.
More than 100 beds were made available at the regional hospital in Nepalgunj, and teams of physicians were on standby to assist the injured.
“I was fast asleep when all of a sudden it started shaking violently. I tried to run but the whole house collapsed. I tried escaping but half my body got buried in the debris,” said Bimal Kumar Karki, one of the first people to be brought to the regional hospital.
“I screamed, but every one of my neighbors was in the same situation and screaming for help. It took nearly a half-hour to an hour before rescuers found me,” he said.
Another injured man recovering in the hospital also described getting buried while he was asleep.
“I was asleep at night and around 10 or 11 at night it started shaking and the house caved. So many houses have collapsed and so many people have been buried,” said Tika Ram Rana who had his head wrapped in a white bandage.
In addition to rescue helicopters, small government and army planes capable of landing on short mountain strips were deployed to transport the injured to Nepalgunj.
Rescuers took the injured on stretchers to ambulances, which transported them to the hospital.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal arrived in a chopper with a medical team. Mr. Dahal led an armed communist insurrection from 1996 until 2006, which began in the earthquake-affected provinces.
According to his staff, he flew seven injured persons back to a hospital in his helicopter.
The quake, which struck as many people were already asleep in their homes, was felt more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) distant in India's capital, New Delhi.
Earthquakes are widespread in Nepal's hilly terrain. In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed 9,000 people and destroyed around 1 million buildings.
India pledged to assist with the rescue attempts.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness on social media for the deaths and devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal.
“India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance,” he said.
