Seismic Performance of Buildings during the November 2023 Earthquake in Jajarkot, Nepal

Abstract

On November 3, 2023, a local magnitude ML 6.4 (moment magnitude, MW 5.7) earthquake struck the Ramidanda epicenter (28°50’24’’ N, 82°11’24’’ E) in Jajarkot, Nepal, at 11:47 p.m. local time (18:02 GMT), with a maximum intensity VI on the Mercalli Intensity Scale. Continuous aftershocks further devastated partially affected villages in Jajarkot, West Rukum, and Salyan. This seismic sequence stands as one of the most destructive earthquakes in Nepal since the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, with a total death toll of 154 and over 366 people injured. The earthquake caused the complete collapse of 26,557 houses, while 35,455 houses were partially damaged. Postearthquake reconnaissance showed that the damage to masonry buildings in the affected areas was mainly due to poor construction quality, degraded construction materials, and noncompliance with codal provisions. Although reinforced concrete buildings in proximity to the main shock epicenter suffered minor damages, many of the affected structures were found to lack appropriate design or construction adherence to the national building code of Nepal. This paper, based on the postearthquake field visit, aims to present the structural damages in buildings incurred during the earthquake, discussing case histories of the affected buildings, their patterns, and the failure mechanisms. The findings highlight the critical need to enforce rigorous building codes and standards to mitigate seismic risk in vulnerable regions like Nepal.