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A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit a remote area of Tibet early on Tuesday morning, killing at least 53 people and injuring 62 others. The earthquake, which struck at 9:05 a.m. local time, sent tremors through neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India, according to reports from the US Geological Survey (USGS) and China’s Earthquake Networks Center. The epicenter was located in the remote Tibetan plateau, about 50 miles north of Mount Everest, near the Himalayan border with Nepal.
Over 1,000 homes were damaged in Tingri county, where the epicenter was located, and the surrounding area. In addition to the fatalities, rescue teams have been working hard to search for survivors in the region. The village areas close to the epicenter are sparsely populated, with an estimated 6,900 people living within a 12-mile radius. However, the mountainous terrain has made the area hard to access, complicating the rescue efforts.
The tremors were felt as far as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, where people rushed out of their homes as power lines were seen swaying. In Tibet, Chinese social media videos showed scenes of devastation in nearby towns like Lhatse, where roofs, shop fronts, and parked vehicles were damaged by the earthquake.
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Locals are in tears following a heavy earthquake in Dingri, Tibet. pic.twitter.com/5hifCDeHUq
Tibet’s tourism industry was also affected, as officials closed the entrance to a popular scenic area near Mount Everest’s Chinese base camp. While winter is not the peak season for climbing the mountain, some tourists still visit for the stunning views of the Himalayas.
In neighboring Nepal, memories of the 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people resurfaced as locals expressed concern over the intensity of the tremors. The region’s yak farm workers near Mount Everest's Nepal base camp reported that everything was shaking and that many were terrified by the earthquake.
Rescue teams, including the Chinese air force, were dispatched to the affected areas, and efforts are ongoing to clear rubble and search for survivors. Some villages have lost phone signals, further complicating communication efforts. The Chinese government has pledged full support to the rescue operation, with President Xi Jinping calling on officials to ensure that all necessary resources are used to save lives and provide warmth for those affected by the cold winter weather.
Despite the region's remote location and difficult access, Tibet remains one of China’s most politically sensitive areas, making it harder for foreign aid to reach those in need. However, authorities are focusing all efforts on addressing the humanitarian crisis, and the community is rallying together to support those impacted by the devastating earthquake.
Source: CNN
