Earthquake Forces Lo Manthang Residents, Teachers and Students to Spend Nights Under Tents as Aftershocks Continue

Residents, teachers and students in Lo Manthang Rural Municipality of Upper Mustang have been forced to spend their nights under tents following the earthquake that struck on the night of September 8, 2026. The 5.3-magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter in Lo Manthang, has cracked around 80 percent of the houses in the area.

The hostel building and teachers’ residential quarters of Divyadeep Secondary School in Lo Manthang have also been damaged by the earthquake and are now considered unsafe for habitation. The school has 84 students enrolled. The damage to the school building has disrupted regular teaching and learning activities, according to the school administration.

The rural municipality office said that most houses in the four wards have suffered moderate to severe damage, with many rendered uninhabitable. Tasinrbu Gurung, chairperson of Lo Manthang Rural Municipality, said the earthquake on the night of September 8 damaged around 80 percent of the houses, most of which are traditionally constructed using stone and mud.

Chairperson Gurung said the area has continued to experience repeated aftershocks since the main earthquake. Although no human casualties have been reported, he said the continuing tremors have increased the risk to residents.

According to Gurung, residents whose houses were damaged, along with school teachers and students, have been forced to take shelter in open spaces after erecting tents. He said local authorities have made necessary alternative arrangements for those affected by the earthquake using available resources at the local level.

The rural municipality is also in the process of purchasing additional tents, Gurung said.

The rural municipality has been collecting details of the damage caused by the earthquake, and officials said it would take some time before a complete assessment is available.

The worst damage has been reported in Phuwa village of Lo Manthang Ward No. 3. Local residents said most houses in other wards have also developed cracks as a result of the earthquake.