5.9 magnitude earthquake rocks Namche, Nepal

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake happened at about 9:17 p.m. (Nepali time), and was centered about 21 km NW of Namche Bazar, the route to Mount Everest. Tremor was felt throughout Nepal including parts of India and Bhutan. Ashish Khanal and Bivek Bhattarai from Nepal contributed for this article.

 Update 10:15 NP

Nepal Seismological center has mentioned magnitude 5.9 earthquake with epicenter located 7 km south east of Namche. The intensity is much higher than what USGS (M 5.0), EMSC (M 5.0) and Indian seismological agency (M 5.2) have mentioned. USGS is pointing epicenter 26 km SSE of Zuobude, China. The map clearly indicates epicenter in Himalayan region of Nepal.

Update 9:55 NP

We are getting reports of tremor even felt in Patna, India and parts of Bhutan. Patna is the second largest city in eastern India located close to Terai region of Nepal. 

This is the second earthquake felt in Kathmandu in three months. Weak tremor was felt in northern part of Kathmandu following magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Tibet in August this year.


Update 9:40 NP

Nepal Seismological center has not mentioned about this earthquake in their website. The last data in the website is November 25 earthquake with epicenter in Gorkha district. However, based on the felt report we have received on our facebook page, earthquake was felt throughout Nepal (light to strong in Eastern Nepal) including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Itahari, Banepa, Biratnagar,Jhapa, Dhankuta, Dharan and Janakpur.

People rushed out of their houses in Baneswor, Maitidevi areas of Kathmandu. It was slightly felt in Kathmandu and lasted for 2-3 seconds. Disaster Report don't expects any major damages in Kathmandu. However, chances of landslides in hilly region and surrounding epicenter areas couldn't be excluded.

Update 9:30 NP

EMSC has reported earthquake with magnitude 5.0 located 123 km E of Kathmandu, Nepal. The epicenter is near to Namche Bazar, the route to Mount Everest.

We suspect landslides and avalanches looking the epicenter area. Heavy snowfall has recently been reported in that area.

Related Post: Deadliest Mount Everest avalanche kills 15

Update 9:25 NP

Earthquake was widely felt in Nepal. There are even shaking reports from Terai region of Nepal including Bara and Parsa districts. However, the epicenter is still unknown.

Earthquake has been felt in Kathmandu, Nepal at around 9:15 p.m. Thursday night. Did you feel this earthquake? Please let us know through the comment box below. Details yet to come....