KATHMANDU, Nov 4 (Reuters) – Rescue workers in Nepal initiated the process of clearing debris from collapsed houses using their hands on Saturday, in a desperate search for survivors following the country’s most devastating earthquake in eight years. The earthquake, measuring 6.4 magnitude according to the National Seismological Centre, struck the Jajarkot region at 11:47 p.m. on Friday. Officials fear that the death toll, which currently stands at 137, could rise as search and rescue teams have only recently reached the affected area. The poor quality of construction in the region, coupled with the fact that the earthquake struck while people were asleep, is expected to result in significant damage and loss of life. Rescue efforts have been hampered by roads blocked by landslides, however, authorities have requested helicopters and small planes to be on standby. This earthquake marks the deadliest to hit Nepal since 2015, when two earthquakes claimed the lives of approximately 9,000 people and caused widespread destruction. The Jajarkot district has reported 99 deaths, while neighboring Rukum West district has reported 38 fatalities. Numerous houses have collapsed or developed cracks, leading thousands of residents to spend the night in open fields due to fears of aftershocks. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has arrived in the area to oversee search, rescue, and relief operations. The prime minister’s office has called on political parties, social workers, and the public to donate funds to provide essential supplies and support for survivors. The tremors from the earthquake were felt as far away as New Delhi, 600 km away, and other parts of north India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and pledged to assist Nepal.