A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale according to United States Geological Survey rocked Bhutan at around 3 pm on Sep 23. The epicenter centered 180km east of Thimphu in Mongar, a small town in eastern Bhutan.
The earthquake destroyed houses and monasteries. Lhuntshi Dzong, one of the oldest forts in the east has been severely damaged by the quake. The total estimate of the damaged is yet to be accessed by the district local Government.
Four labourers working on the road lost their lives when boulders and trees came hurtling down the hill killing them on the spot. A severly injured woman who was taken to a hospital succumbed to her injuries there taking the death toll to 5 people.
In Trashiyangtse, a small town in the east people ran out of their houses when they felt the tremor. While only few people in Thimphu actually felt the tremor.
Earthquake of similar magnitude was felt in early 20th century.
Bhutan lies in the earthquake belt making it vulnerable to earthquakes of even bigger magnitude in future.
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