Nepal Earthquake: 5.3 Magnitude Quake Hits Mustang, Flood Alert Follows

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal’s northwestern Mustang district on Tuesday night, with tremors felt in neighbouring districts. There were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or damage caused by the earthquake.

According to Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the quake occurred at 9:53:34 pm local time on September 8, with its epicenter in Mustang at 29.15°N latitude and 84.01°E longitude. The epicenter was identified at Lomanthang, around 375 km northwest of Kathmandu.

The tremor was felt in Manang, Dolpa and Myagdi districts. Mustang is around 250 km from the major areas hit by the devastating flash floods in northern-central Nepal.

The earthquake comes as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of the August 26 disaster, when an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered massive flooding. The Bhotekoshi River surged downstream, destroying homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects. The disaster's death toll rose to 1,357, while more than 5,326 people remained missing, according to the latest PTI update.

In a separate development, a landslide blocked the Kimrung River in Parbat district of Gandaki Province, raising fears of flooding downstream. The Flood Forecasting Division issued an alert, warning communities extending toward the Kaligandaki River confluence to remain on high alert. The Kimrung River is a tributary of the Modi River.

Authorities urged people in Nayapul, Birethanti and surrounding lower settlements to move to safer locations because of the potential flooding risk. Local officials and police also issued warnings to residents along the riverbanks.

Meanwhile, rescue operations continue in flood-hit areas, with authorities searching for people believed to remain trapped in hydropower tunnels. Reuters reported that 121 people could still be trapped in three tunnel systems, highlighting the continuing scale of the disaster.