A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the northern foothills of the Himalayas near a sacred city in Tibet on Tuesday, as reported by Joe Cash and Gopal Sharma. The quake resulted in at least 95 fatalities and caused buildings to shake in neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and India.
The earthquake occurred at 9:05 a.m. (0105 GMT) with its epicenter in Tingri, a rural county known as the northern gateway to the Everest region, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The U.S. Geological Service estimated the quake’s magnitude to be 7.1. So far, 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 injured in Tibet, as reported by Chinese state television.
This region, prone to seismic activity due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, experienced tremors that were felt as far as Nepal and northern India. The epicenter was located approximately 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest. Rescue efforts are underway, with over 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers dispatched to the affected areas. Additionally, relief supplies such as tents, coats, quilts, and beds have been sent to support those impacted by the disaster.
Following the earthquake, several aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.4 were reported in Tingri, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure. The quake has left more than 1,000 houses damaged in the region. The affected areas, including three townships and 27 villages with a population of approximately 6,900, are currently being assessed for further casualties and damage.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive search and rescue operations to minimize casualties and ensure the well-being of those affected. The Everest region has been closed to tourists as a precautionary measure. Efforts are ongoing to provide support and assistance to those impacted by the earthquake.
The Lhasa block is situated in an area experiencing north-south compression and west-east stress, as reported by CCTV, citing Chinese experts. Since 1950, the region has been struck by 21 earthquakes measuring magnitude 6 or higher, with the most significant being the 6.9-magnitude quake in Mainling in 2017, according to CCTV. Mainling is positioned in the lower region of Tibet’s Yarlung Zangbo river, where China has intentions to construct the world’s largest hydropower dam.
A seismic event of magnitude 7.8 hit near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, in 2015, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 9,000 lives and leaving thousands injured in what was deemed Nepal’s most devastating earthquake. Among the casualties were at least 18 individuals who perished at the Mount Everest base camp following an avalanche.
Just recently, tremors shook Kathmandu, located around 400 km (250 miles) from the epicenter. Alarmed residents rushed out of their homes in the city. Meera Adhikari, a resident of Kathmandu, shared her experience, stating, “The bed was shaking, and I thought my child was moving the bed… I didn’t pay that much attention, but the shaking of the window made me understand that it’s an earthquake. I’m still shaking out of fear and am in shock.”
In Kathmandu, one individual sustained injuries after leaping from the top of a building due to the intense tremors, as confirmed by Nepal Police spokesman Bishwa Adhikari. The injured person was promptly taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The quake also reverberated in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and the northern Indian state of Bihar, which shares a border with Nepal.
Authorities from India and Bhutan have reported no instances of damage or loss of property thus far. The seismic activity underscores the ongoing vigilance required in earthquake-prone regions to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
This report was compiled by Joe Cash and Ryan Woo in Beijing, Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu, Tora Agarwala in Guwahati, India, and Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar, India. The article was composed by Lincoln Feast, with editing contributions from Raju Gopalakrishnan, Neil Fullick, and Kate Mayberry.
