At least 37 dead as earthquake rocks northwestern Nepal, and officials say toll expected to rise

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An earthquake has shaken northwestern Nepal, and officials say at least 37 people are dead and dozens more injured as rescuers search the mountainous villages. Officials said Saturday that the toll was expected to rise, saying communication was cut off with many villages. Officials say the earthquake that struck late Fridy killed at least 20 people in Rukum district and 17 in neighboring Jajarkot district. Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center measured the quake at 6.4 magnitude and said its epicenter was at Jajarkot, which is about 250 miles northeast of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. The U.S. Geological Survey had initially said the earthquake had a preliminary magntidue of 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 11 miles.