5.3-magnitude earthquake hits flood-ravaged Nepal

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Nepal on Tuesday night, days after floods and landslides killed over 1,300 people and left thousands missing, adding to the woes of the disaster-stricken Himalayan nation.

The quake struck at 9:53 p.m. According to Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the epicentre was Lomanthang in Mustang district, which is about 375 kilometres (233 miles) north-west of Kathmandu. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring districts of Manang, Dolpa and Myagdi.

There have been no reports of deaths, injuries or significant damage so far from the earthquake.

Nepal is still reeling from catastrophic flooding and landslides caused by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on Aug. 26. The disaster took its toll on communities, damaging hydropower infrastructure and destroying roads and bridges.

Nepal’s disaster authorities said Tuesday the death toll from the flooding had reached 1,357 and 5,326 people were still missing. Rescue teams are still looking for survivors and the missing, including hydropower workers who are thought to be trapped in tunnels.

Authorities stayed on alert for additional landslides and flooding in affected areas after the latest quake.