BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese officials reported that more than 400 individuals have been successfully rescued after being trapped by a powerful earthquake in the Himalayan foothills. Additionally, over 30,000 residents have been relocated as search and rescue operations continue into the second day, aiming to find survivors amidst the devastation.
The earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, struck Tingri in China’s Tibet region, approximately 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak. The seismic activity also reverberated across neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India.
As the quake’s aftermath unfolded, concerns mounted for those trapped under debris, particularly as sub-zero temperatures posed risks of hypothermia and dehydration. Initial assessments revealed that 3,609 homes were destroyed in the Shigatse region of Tibet, where approximately 800,000 people reside. Responding swiftly to the crisis, more than 500 individuals and 106 ambulances were mobilized to aid the injured.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that on the Tibetan side alone, at least 126 individuals lost their lives, with 188 others sustaining injuries. Thankfully, no fatalities were recorded in Nepal or other affected areas. The challenging high-altitude environment, with temperatures plummeting to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, added further hardship for displaced survivors.
Efforts to provide relief were underway, with the delivery of tents, food supplies, generators, and essential resources to the affected areas by the end of Tuesday. Moreover, all roadways impacted by the earthquake had been cleared and reopened to facilitate ongoing rescue and recovery operations.
Southwestern China, Nepal, and northern India frequently experience seismic activity owing to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The collision has led to the gradual uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, rendering the entire region susceptible to earthquakes. The seismic activity extends to neighboring regions such as Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai, where tremors are not uncommon.
Criticism directed towards Beijing regarding its administration of Tibet as an autonomous region within China has been met with denials. The Chinese government refutes allegations from rights groups and exiled Tibetans concerning infringements on religious and cultural rights within Tibetan territories.
In the aftermath of the primary earthquake, more than 500 aftershocks, some registering magnitudes up to 4.4, continued to shake the region. Data from the China Earthquake Networks Centre indicated a total of 29 earthquakes measuring 3 or higher within 200 km of Tuesday’s epicenter over the past five years. Notably, the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.0, claimed tens of thousands of lives, marking it as China’s deadliest earthquake since the catastrophic 1976 Tangshan quake that resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
The recent earthquake, measuring 6.8 in
