Aftershock of 4.2 magnitude recorded in quake-hit Nepal, death toll crosses 150
Kathmandu, Nov 4: A 4.2-magnitude tremor was recorded in Nepal on Saturday, a day after the Himalayan nation's worst earthquake in eight years that killed 157 people in the country's remote mountainous region.
The aftershock was recorded in Jajarkot district at 3:40 PM on Saturday.
According to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre, the aftershock was of 4.2-magnitude and its epicenter was Ramidanda. This tremor was an aftershock of the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.
Nepal on Friday was jolted after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck the Jajarkot district, about 500km west of Kathmandu. It was recorded at 11:47 p.m.
Friday's earthquake is the most devastating one in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake that killed around 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000 others.
Meanwhile, Home Ministry officials have said that so far 1,800 houses have been completely damaged in Jajarkot while 2,500 damaged in Rukum West.
So far, 157 people have been killed and around 200 have been injured in Jajarkot and Rukum.
People who survived in the earthquake-hit areas require tents, blankets and food items as soon as possible.
"We have successfully carried out rescue work and now we need tents, blankets and food items immediately," said Chandra Prakash Khatri, Mayor of Bheri Municipality in Jajarkot district, told a private television channel.
Chairman of Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot said, 80 per cent of the houses were severely damaged and need to be reconstructed in his municipality.
People are staying in the open spaces and fields without any shelter. They are staying under the trees, and bushes and need blankets, and tents immediately, he added.
We need around 3,000 tents immediately, he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal who returned after inspecting earthquake-hit Jajarkot and Rukum districts on Saturday instructed concerned agencies to speed up rescue and relief efforts in the affected region.
The Cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place Sunday morning to make necessary decisions for carrying out relief and rehabilitation activities.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
