KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 28
Over the last few days, earthquake aftershocks have been relentless in western Nepal, with each earthquake measuring around magnitude 4. Experts, on the other hand, believe it is a natural phenomenon.
Seven aftershocks have struck western Nepal since December 16, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre (NEMRC).
Meanwhile, at 11.37 p.m. on Friday (December 27), an aftershock with a Richter scale magnitude of 3.7 occurred near Lali in Kalikot.
According to the NEMRC, an aftershock measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck around Dhamena, Bajhang, on December 17. Similarly, on December 18, a 4.1 magnitude tremor occurred with its epicentre in Dhamena, Bajhang.
On December 19, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck Nesyang, Manang. According to the NRMRC, an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck Bajura on December 21, and an earthquake of magnitude 4 struck around Api Mountain in Darchula at 9:25 p.m. on December 24. On December 26, an aftershock with a Richter scale magnitude of 4.2 struck Jajarkot's Naikwada.
NEMRC stated an earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale struck around Lali in Kalikot at 11.37 a.m. on Friday. According to reports, a 6.4 Richter scale earthquake struck Ramidanda in Jajarkot on November 3, 2023.
According to experts, five aftershocks occurred in western Nepal following the earthquake alone.
According to them, the main reason for the ongoing earthquake is the aftershocks from the earthquake that struck Jajarkot last year. On November 3, 2023, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Barekot Rural Municipality-1 in Jajarkot, with the epicentre at Ramidanda. Exactly one month later, another 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the same area, with the epicentre in the same location. Prior to that, Bajhang and Bajura experienced earthquakes ranging in magnitude from five to six.
"This is very natural. Thousands of aftershocks occur following a major earthquake," Dr. Shiba Subedi, seismologist at the Nepal Academy of Sciences and Technology, told THT.
"If there had not been an earthquake, there would not be mountains."
According to him, western Nepal is also experiencing frequent earthquakes as a result of stored energy. "Western Nepal has not had a major earthquake in 500 years. This indicates that there is a significant amount of seismic energy stored underground," he said.
On June 6, 1505, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 occurred in Mustang. According to experts, it was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Nepal. It is estimated to have a magnitude of 8.2 to 8.8.
There have been no major earthquakes in mid-western and far-western Nepal since the earthquake in Mustang, which was part of the Western Development Region. As a result, the area has accumulated enough energy to trigger an earthquake of magnitude 8.
According to Subedi, earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 6 are natural in western Nepal.
He further said, "We have already stated that the area west of Barpak has the potential to experience an earthquake of magnitude 7 or 8 at any time. In that regard, we are in a risk zone. There is no reason to believe otherwise if an earthquake of magnitude 7 or 8 occurs anywhere in Nepal at any time. Every year, our tectonic plate moves 2 centimetres towards the north."
