Aid trickles into villages struck by Nepal earthquake

Aid trickles in as survivors salvage belongings from rubble in Nepal villages struck by earthquake

A woman looks at the rubble of her home.

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA

Associated Press

Nov. 6, 2023 Updated 4:38 PM PT

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Survivors of an earthquake that flattened villages in Nepal’s northwest mountains searched through the debris of their collapsed homes for any salvageable belongings Monday as aid trickled into the remote area.

The relatively shallow magnitude 5.6 temblor Friday killed 157 people, injured scores of others and left thousands homeless when it struck just before midnight, unleashing landslides and collapsing homes in an area of steep slopes centered around the district of Jajarkot. The district is about 250 miles northeast of the capital, Kathmandu.

“It felt like the world had collapsed and I was not sure if anyone had even survived and would be able to help,” said Mina Bika, who was sleeping with her family when the ceiling of their home fell and buried them.

Her husband was badly injured and taken to a hospital in the town of Surkhet, while she and the couple’s two sons were only lightly hurt.

Authorities pressed forward Monday with efforts to bring food, tents, medicine and other supplies to the remote villages, many reachable only by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the quake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear roads.

Later in the afternoon, the ground shook again with a magnitude 5.3 aftershock that sent people scrambling for safety.

Search-and-rescue teams said that the first part of their mission — to rescue survivors, get the injured to treatment and search for bodies — was over.

“Now we are working on the second phase of our work to distribute relief material, get aid to the villagers, and at the same time we are collecting details about the damages,” said government official Harish Chandra Sharma.

The National Emergency Operation Center in Kathmandu said that along with the 157 killed, at least 256 people were injured and 3,891 homes were damaged.

In Chepare, villagers combed through piles of rocks and logs that used to be their homes, looking for anything they could salvage.

“Most of what belonged to us is under the rubble. All our beds, clothes, whatever jewelry and money we had — it’s all under there,” said Nirmala Sharma, pointing to her wrecked home.

She said they got a tent and some food Sunday night. Authorities distributed rice, oil, instant noodles and salt to last the villagers for a few days.

Tarpaulin and plastic sheets made for temporary shelters for a lucky few while thousands of others spent a third night in the cold.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who just returned from a trip to Nepal, said the hospitality and spirit of the country’s people were “fresh in his heart.” He sent condolences to families of the victims while wishing for a quick recovery for the injured, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

“The United Nations is working closely with authorities in providing speedy assistance — including food, shelter and medicine — to those affected,” the spokesman added.

Most of the homes in the villages in the districts of Jajarkot and Rukum — where houses are traditionally built by stacking rocks and logs — either collapsed or were severely damaged. Even the few buildings made of concrete were damaged.

After a Cabinet meeting Sunday, Communications Minister Rekha Sharma told reporters that supplying food and setting up temporary shelters were the main focus of government efforts for the moment. It is also working on plans to reconstruct damaged houses.