At least 95 people lost their lives and more than 130 were injured after a strong earthquake hit Tingri County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in western China, this Tuesday (7). The tremors were also felt in Nepal and India, as reported by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
The earthquake occurred at 9:05 am (local time) in Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Seismological Network Center (CENC).
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.1 on the Richter scale, while the CENC indicated a magnitude of 6.8.
In Tingri County, which was the most affected, more than a thousand houses collapsed, according to the Nanfang Daily newspaper.
Xinhua reported that about 6,900 people reside within a 20-kilometer radius of the epicenter.
Xi calls for “exhaustive efforts to save lives”
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Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “exhaustive efforts to save lives and minimize the number of casualties,” highlighting the importance of preventing secondary disasters and properly relocating affected residents.
The Chinese leader also highlighted the urgency of repairing damaged infrastructure and ensuring that the population’s basic needs are met, as detailed by the news agency.
Following the earthquake, the State Council’s Anti-Earthquake Command and Disaster Relief Office (Chinese Executive) and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated an emergency response and sent a team to the scene to coordinate rescue efforts.
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According to state broadcaster CCTV, more than 1,500 local firefighters were mobilized to search for and rescue survivors.
Tingri County, which has a population density of 4.2 people per square kilometer, is located at the foot of the Himalayan mountain range and has an average altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level, according to information from the local government.
Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures in the county are expected to reach minimums of 16 degrees below zero and maximums of 3 degrees Celsius this Tuesday.
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Epicenter 85 kilometers from Everest
The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 85 kilometers from Mount Everest, which is on the border between China and Nepal and was closed to the public until further notice to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.
The tremor was felt in parts of Nepal and several states in northern India, according to press reports in those countries, although no deaths or damage were reported.
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Tibet and other regions of western China are often affected by earthquakes due to the proximity of the friction point between the Asian and Indian tectonic plates, but due to low population density, tremors often occur in sparsely inhabited areas.
In December 2023, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake resulted in more than 150 deaths in the neighboring Qinghai region and western Gansu province.
(with international agencies)
