A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, killing at least 95 people and causing extensive damage to buildings. The 6.8-magnitude quake, with some sources reporting it as 7.1, hit rural Tingri county, located about 80 kilometers north of Mount Everest, at around 9:00 AM local time. The tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and parts of India.
The earthquake devastated the area, with many houses made of stone, mud bricks, and wood collapsing. Local resident Sangji Dangzhi, whose supermarket was severely damaged, described the situation as “very serious,” with ambulances transporting people to hospitals throughout the day. Surveillance footage captured the panic as people fled through store aisles while objects fell off shelves. In the town of Lhatse, 65 kilometers from the epicenter, older houses and brick buildings cracked open, leaving debris scattered along streets.
As of 3:00 PM (0700 GMT), Xinhua news agency confirmed that 95 people had died, and 130 others were injured. More than 1,000 houses were reported damaged, and rescue operations are underway. Over 3,400 rescuers and 340 medical workers have been deployed, and essential aid, including cold-weather equipment and tents, has been sent to the region.
Tingri, the epicenter of the quake, is home to around 62,000 people, many of whom live in less-developed conditions compared to urban centers like Tibet’s capital, Lhasa. The area is surrounded by mountainous terrain near the Chinese side of Mount Everest.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out search and rescue efforts, prioritizing the minimization of casualties and ensuring the safety of affected residents, especially with temperatures expected to drop to minus 16 degrees Celsius overnight.
In response to the tragedy, the Dalai Lama expressed his sorrow, offering prayers for the victims and their families. Russian President Vladimir Putin also extended condolences to China.
The tremors were felt as far as Kathmandu and high-altitude areas near Mount Everest, including Nepal’s Lobuche region. Despite strong shaking, no casualties have been reported in Nepal or nearby areas of India.
This earthquake is the most powerful in the region in the last five years and follows a deadly quake in Gansu province, northwest China, in December 2023, which killed 148 people.