A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and collapsing numerous buildings, according to state media reports. Tremors from the quake were felt as far away as Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8 according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 as reported by the US Geological Survey, hit Dingri County near the Nepal border at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT).
State broadcaster CCTV released footage showing widespread destruction, with houses reduced to rubble and walls torn apart.
Rising Casualties
“Thirty-two people have been confirmed dead, and 38 injured during the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Dingri County in Xigaze city in the Tibet Autonomous Region,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters. By later reports, the death toll rose to 53.
The epicenter experienced severe tremors, causing “many buildings near the area to collapse,” according to CCTV.
Authorities are conducting assessments across affected townships, with rescue and relief operations underway despite freezing temperatures. Dingri, a high-altitude county located near Mount Everest, is home to approximately 62,000 residents.
Severe Weather Challenges Relief Efforts
The China Meteorological Administration reported that temperatures in Dingri were around -8°C (17.6°F) and would plummet further to -18°C overnight, complicating rescue operations.
The quake is the most powerful recorded in the region within a 200-kilometer radius in five years, the CENC noted.
Regional Impact
The earthquake’s impact extended beyond China’s borders. Tremors were reported in Nepal, including Kathmandu and the high mountain areas near Everest, such as Lobuche and Namche.
“It shook quite strongly here; everyone is awake,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, a government official in Nepal’s Namche region. No immediate casualties or damage were reported in Nepal, and security forces have been deployed to monitor the situation, said Rishi Ram Tiwari, spokesperson for Nepal’s Home Ministry.
In India, tremors were felt in Bihar state, though no injuries or damages have been reported.
History of Earthquakes in the Region
The Himalayan region, where the Indian tectonic plate pushes against the Eurasian plate, is prone to frequent earthquakes.
In 2015, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal killed nearly 9,000 people, injured over 22,000, and destroyed more than half a million homes.
China, too, has a history of destructive earthquakes. In December 2023, a quake in northwest China’s Gansu province claimed 148 lives, displaced thousands, and posed significant challenges due to subzero temperatures.
Tuesday’s earthquake in Tibet underscores the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, with survivors now facing the dual challenges of cold weather and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue teams continue their efforts to reach affected areas and provide aid.
