6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bhairabkunda, Nepal: Damage and Injuries Reported

February 28, 2025: According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook Bhairabkunda in Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal early this morning. The tremor, which occurred at 2:51 am, was strongly felt in Kathmandu and nearby districts, as well as in eastern and southern parts of Nepal, including Jhapa, Biratnagar, Sindhuli, Janakpur, Birgung, Chitwan and Hetauda. The quake’s impact was also reported in India and Bangladesh, with tremors felt in cities like Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Patna in India.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), today’s earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.5, lower than the 6.1 reported by Nepal’s seismological center. The USGS estimates that weak tremors of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale II-III were felt by approximately 65,306,000 people across Nepal and India.

Damage and Injuries Reported

In Chautara, a prison inmate fractured his hand after falling from a bunk bed while trying to escape during the quake, The Himalayan Times reported. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. IIn Kodari, a police barrack wall cracked, and a dry landslide occurred in Tusare, though no injuries were reported as the area is uninhabited. A response team has been deployed to assess the situation.

In Melamchi, one person suffered a head injury after slipping while exiting his home. Meanwhile, a two-storey house cracked in Lisankhupakhar, forcing his family to relocate. In Dhading, a police constable broke his nose and lost a tooth after hitting a wall during the quake. 

Intensity vs. Distance plot (Source: USGS)

Nepal sits in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, making it highly prone to seismic activity. The devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed over 9,000 people, is a grim reminder of this risk. A research paper published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters claims fault near Kathmandu could produce magnitude 8 or greater earthquake.