At least 128 dead in Nepal earthquake, officials say toll expected to rise

At least 128 people were killed and dozens injured in Nepal when a strong earthquake struck the western area of Jajarkot, officials said on Saturday, as houses in the area collapsed and buildings as far as New Delhi in neighbouring India shook.

The quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. on Friday with a magnitude 6.4, Nepal’s National Seismological Centre said, although the German and American Geological centres downgraded the measure to 5.7 and 5.6.

Officials feared the death toll in Friday’s quake could rise as they had not been able to establish contact in the hilly area near the epicentre some 500 km west of the capital.