A powerful earthquake in China’s remote Tibet region has claimed at least 53 lives and caused significant destruction, with numerous buildings collapsing on Tuesday, according to state media. Tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India.
Videos released by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed widespread devastation, with houses torn apart and walls collapsed. Rescue teams were seen combing through the rubble, offering blankets to locals in an effort to provide warmth amidst the chaos.
Surveillance footage shared by CCTV captured the violent shaking of a store in the affected region, with shelves rattling and items falling to the ground, while in the town of Lhatse, debris was seen scattered across streetside eateries.
The earthquake, which struck Dingri County near the Nepalese border at 9:05 am local time (0105 GMT), registered a magnitude of 6.8, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), while the US Geological Survey reported it as magnitude 7.1.
As of Tuesday noon, Xinhua reported that 53 people had died, with 62 others injured. Over 1,000 homes were damaged to varying extents. Many buildings near the epicenter of the quake have collapsed, as strong tremors rocked Dingri and surrounding areas.
In response, Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the need for full-scale search and rescue efforts, aiming to minimize casualties and ensure the safety of affected residents, especially as temperatures in the region plummet. The China Meteorological Administration has forecast temperatures to fall to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0.4°F) by the evening.
Disaster relief, including cotton tents, quilts, and specialized items for high-altitude and cold environments, has already been sent to the affected areas, Xinhua reported.
Dingri, located in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and home to about 62,000 people, lies on the Chinese side of Mount Everest. The area is no stranger to seismic activity, but Tuesday’s earthquake was the strongest recorded in the past five years within a 200-kilometre radius.
The tremors also affected neighboring Nepal, particularly the areas around Lobuche near Mount Everest. While government officials reported strong shaking in regions such as Namche, no fatalities or significant damage were reported in Nepal as of Tuesday, and security forces have been deployed to assess the situation.
The region is located on a major fault line, where the Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate, causing frequent earthquakes. The devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal claimed nearly 9,000 lives and caused widespread destruction.
Although tremors were also felt in parts of Bihar, India, no injuries have been reported there either.
This earthquake follows a series of recent seismic events in the region, including a deadly quake in December 2023 that killed 148 people and displaced thousands in Gansu province. The region has also experienced significant challenges in responding to disasters due to extreme cold temperatures, which complicate aid efforts.
AFP
