Death toll now at 157 as Nepal rushes aid and rescue operations after strong quake shakes its northwest

An aerial picture shows damaged buildings in Jajarkot district on November 4, 2023, following an overnight 5.6-magnitude earthquake. At least 157 people were killed in an overnight earthquake of 5.6-magnitude that struck a remote pocket of Nepal, officials said on November 4, as security forces rushed to assist with rescue efforts. - Photo: AFP

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP): Survivors of a strong earthquake that shook Nepal ’s northwest in the middle of the night described sudden shaking followed by houses collapsing and burying entire families, as the death toll rose to 157 on Saturday.

Most of those killed were crushed by debris when their houses - usually made by stacking rocks and logs - crumbled under the force of the tremblor midnight Friday, local media reported.