Kathmandu, November 4: A shallow 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal at around 2:02 a.m. local time on Saturday (1802 GMT Friday), resulting in the tragic loss of at least 69 lives and leaving dozens injured, according to officials.

The earthquake originated in the western Jajarkot district with a depth of 18 km, as reported by the US Geological Survey.

The impact of the quake was particularly devastating, with 35 casualties reported in Rukum district and 34 in the neighboring Jajarkot district.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his condolences for the lives lost and property damage caused by the earthquake. He promptly ordered immediate rescue and relief efforts, sharing this message on social media, formerly known as Twitter.

It's worth noting that in 2015, a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake claimed the lives of approximately 9,000 people and resulted in extensive damage to over half a million houses in the mountainous nation.