Chinese state media report that a significant earthquake has resulted in at least 95 confirmed fatalities and 130 injuries in a remote area of mountainous Tibet close to Mount Everest.
An earthquake struck Tibet’s revered Shigatse city at approximately 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday, registering a magnitude of 7.1 with a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), as the US Geological Survey reported. The agency also indicated that a series of aftershocks followed in the region.
Tremors were reported in Nepal and various regions of India, both of which share borders with Tibet.
In a region known for seismic activity due to its location on a significant geological fault line, Tuesday’s earthquake stands out as one of China’s deadliest in recent years.
Footage released by China’s state broadcaster CCTV depicted scenes of devastation, featuring ruined homes and fallen structures. Rescue personnel were seen navigating through the wreckage, distributing heavy blankets to affected residents.
Survivors are seen receiving medical treatment in the footage.
In Tingri County, located close to the earthquake’s epicenter in the northern foothills of the Himalayas, current temperatures hover around -8C (17.6F). The China Meteorological Administration forecasts a further decline, predicting temperatures will plummet to -18C by evening.
The region is currently experiencing disruptions in both power and water services. Over 40 aftershocks were recorded within a few hours in the earthquake’s immediate aftermath.
Shigatse stands out as one of the most revered cities in Tibet. Following its annexation by China in the 1950s, the region has experienced stringent oversight, particularly concerning media and internet access.
Chinese state media has reported a magnitude of 6.8 earthquake, indicating “obvious” tremors and damaging over 1,000 houses.
Jiang Haikun, a researcher affiliated with the China Earthquake Networks Centre, informed CCTV that while the possibility of another earthquake registering around magnitude 5 remains, “the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low.”
A hotel guest in Shigatse reported to the Chinese media outlet Fengmian News that a strong tremor abruptly awakened him. He noted that he quickly put on his socks and hurried outside, observing helicopters flying overhead.
“It felt as though the bed was being lifted,” he remarked, noting that he recognized it was an earthquake due to recent minor tremors in Tibet.
Tingri County, located at the base of Mount Everest, is a prominent hub for climbers gearing up to tackle the world’s highest summit, which lies on the border between Nepal and China.
Tourism officials have announced the cancellation of Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri, which were set to take place on Tuesday morning. A representative confirmed that the sightseeing area has been completely closed to local media.
According to reports, three visitors in the sightseeing area were relocated to an outdoor space for safety reasons.
The Shigatse region, with a population of 800,000, serves as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, an influential figure in Tibetan Buddhism whose spiritual authority ranks just below that of the Dalai Lama.
The exiled spiritual leader expressed profound sorrow upon hearing the news of the earthquake.
The Dalai Lama expressed his condolences, stating, “I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and extend my wishes for a swift recovery to all who have been injured.”
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet for India in 1959, has emerged as a significant figure for Tibetans seeking an alternative to Beijing’s dominance over the region. There is widespread speculation that China intends to select its own Dalai Lama following the death of the current spiritual leader.
Tibetan Gedhun Choekyi Niyima, recognized as the reincarnated Panchen Lama, vanished in China at six. China subsequently selected its own Panchen Lama.
Rescue operations have been initiated by the Chinese Air Force, which has deployed drones to the impacted region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged comprehensive search and rescue operations to reduce casualties and facilitate the resettlement of those impacted.
An official from the National Emergency Operations Centre reported to BBC Newsday that, despite strong tremors in Nepal, there were no significant damages or casualties. The official noted only “minor damages and cracks on houses.”
The area, situated close to a significant fault line between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, experiences regular seismic events. In 2015, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly 9,000 lives and leaving over 20,000 individuals injured.
On Tuesday morning, tremors shook Kathmandu, prompting residents to flee their homes in a scene reminiscent of a past disaster that still lingers in collective memory.
“In 2015, when the earthquake struck, I was unable to move,” said Manju Neupane, a shop owner in Kathmandu, in an interview with BBC Nepali. Today, the circumstances are markedly different and far less alarming. Concerns are mounting among residents about the potential for another significant earthquake, raising fears of being caught in precarious situations amidst towering structures.
