A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, resulting in at least 53 fatalities and significant structural damage. The tremor, recorded at a magnitude of 6.8, hit Dingri County near the Nepal border at 9:05 am local time, with tremors felt as far away as Kathmandu and parts of India.
State media outlets reported extensive devastation, showcasing videos of collapsed buildings and chaotic scenes in local stores, where items were thrown to the ground by the quake’s force. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to navigate through wreckage, providing thick blankets to locals who braved the cold.
Initial assessments indicated that more than 1,000 homes were damaged due to the earthquake. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) noted that this tremor was one of the strongest recorded in the region in the past five years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive search and rescue operations to minimize casualties, alongside immediate aid for affected residents. Efforts to evaluate the quake’s impact are underway, as authorities assess damage across the region.
As temperatures plunged to minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and expected to drop further, disaster relief efforts commenced with the distribution of essential supplies, including tents and blankets for those in need.
Dingri County, home to approximately 62,000 residents and located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest, is historically prone to seismic activity. Previous earthquakes in the region, such as the devastating 2015 quake in Nepal and another in December 2023 in northwest China, underscore the ongoing risks posed by the area’s geological conditions.
While the quake rattled nearby regions in Nepal, no immediate reports of damage or casualties have emerged. The region lies along a major fault line where tectonic plates converge, frequently resulting in seismic activity.
