KATHMANDU: Three powerful earthquakes have struck in an interval of 164 minutes in the western region of Nepal on Wednesday morning.

According to Lok Bijaya Adhikari, the chief of National Seismological Center (NSC), Lainchaur, the first 5.8-magnitude tremor occurred at 5:42 am, the second one (4-magnitude) struck at 8:16 am and the third one (5.3-magnitude) struck at 8:26 am, , sending people outdoors in panic.

All of the tremors were epicentered at Bhulbhule in Marsyangdi rural municipality of Lamjung district, said Adhikari.

Four people have sustained injuries and as many as a dozen houses made from clay and stones have broken down due to the powerful earthquake.

According to DSP Ganga Thapa of District Police Office, Lamjung, four people including Uma Gurung, 36, of Besishahar municipality-6, Khaka Kumari Khadka, 83, of ward-11, Khushimaya Gurung, 29, of ward-8 and Govinda Adhikari, 22, of Marsyangdi rural municipality-6, Thulibesi, were injured.

The tremors have been felt in Lamjung, Gorkha, Dhading, Tanahun, Kaski including the Kathmandu Valley.

Earlier on April 28, an earthquake of local magnitude (ML) 3.5 had struck with its epicenter around Kalanki in Kathmandu.

Similarly, a 4.1-magnitude quake had occurred with its epicenter in Kavrepalanchowk on March 18.

Nepal is prone to earthquake and often witnesses quakes as it lies along the active fault zone between the two tectonic plates – the Tibetan plate and Indian plate.

Photos by Bikash Gurung