A moment magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Jajarkot District, Karnali Province, Nepal, at 23:47 NPT (18:02 UTC) on 3 November 2023,[2] killing 153 people and injuring at least 375.

[3][4][5][6] The earthquake was widely felt in western Nepal and northern India, and is the deadliest to strike the country since 2015.

[7] Nepal lies in the Himalayas, where earthquake activity is associated with ongoing continental collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

[8] Based on a study published in 2013, of the Main Frontal Thrust, on average a magnitude 8 or larger earthquake occurs every 750 ± 140 and 870 ± 350 years in the east Nepal region.

[11] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a magnitude of Mww  5.7 and a depth of 32.6 kilometres (20.3 mi).

[21] Dr. Mandip Subedi, President of Nepal Geotechnical Society, Nepal, who visited the earthquake-affected area immediately after the earthquake, highlighted that despite the earthquake's relatively low magnitude, the high levels of damage and casualties were attributed to substandard construction in the region and because it occurred at night when people were asleep.

[20] The earthquake also destroyed at least 20 healthcare facilities, including a district hospital and four maternal delivery centres.

Several deaths were subsequently reported among the displaced due to exposure and cold-related illnesses in the succeeding weeks.

[2] Shaking was felt in the Indian cities of Lucknow, Patna[38] and New Delhi, causing people to panic and flee buildings.

[40][41] The 6 November aftershock injured 16 people and collapsed three houses in West Rukum and Jajarkot districts.

[42][43][44] Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the spokesperson for the Nepalese Home Ministry, said that security forces had been deployed to the area.

[38] Helicopters were also deployed to deliver humanitarian aid and staff, while soldiers were sent to clear roads blocked by landslides.

[45] A member of Western Rukum's police department said search and rescue teams had to remove landslide debris in order to reach the affected area.

[4] President Ram Chandra Poudel expressed sadness over the loss of human lives and property in the earthquake and appealed to the government and others concerned for effective rescue and relief work in affected areas.

[47] Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also expressed "his deep sorrow over the human and physical damage caused by the earthquake".

[50] Helicopters with medical teams and medicines were prepared to fly into the affected area when weather conditions improved.