Powerful Earthquake Strikes Tibet, Killing 53 and Collapsing Buildings
A devastating earthquake in China’s remote Tibet region claimed at least 53 lives and left many buildings destroyed on Tuesday, according to state media. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India.
The quake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 according to the US Geological Survey, struck Dingri County near the Nepal border at 9:05 am (0105 GMT).
Videos from China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed homes reduced to rubble and walls torn apart in Dingri County, home to approximately 62,000 residents near Mount Everest. Temperatures in the area are expected to plummet to -18°C (0°F) by nightfall, complicating rescue efforts.
State media reported that 32 people were confirmed dead with 38 injured as of early updates. Local authorities are working to assess the full extent of the disaster, Xinhua news agency reported.
The region frequently experiences earthquakes, but this is the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in five years, according to CENC.
Tremors Felt Across Borders
Strong tremors were reported in Nepal’s Lobuche region, near Everest, and in Kathmandu, where officials confirmed no casualties or damage so far. Areas in Bihar, India, also felt the quake, though no injuries were reported.
Nepal’s history of seismic activity includes the devastating 2015 earthquake that claimed nearly 9,000 lives. Similarly, recent quakes in China have resulted in significant casualties, including a December 2023 earthquake in Gansu province that killed 148 people.
Efforts are ongoing to provide relief to the affected regions as temperatures and terrain pose significant challenges to rescue operations.
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