A powerful earthquake struck a high-altitude area in western China as well as parts of Nepal on Tuesday, causing significant destruction and claiming the lives of at least 126 individuals in Tibet. The tremor resulted in numerous houses being damaged, with debris littering the streets, and many residents found themselves trapped under the rubble amidst a series of aftershocks, which continued to rock the remote region.
Rescue teams diligently traversed the wreckage, often scaling piles of bricks and utilizing ladders in the severely impacted villages to locate survivors. Additional footage released by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management depicted rescue workers transporting two individuals on stretchers over the debris left from collapsed buildings.
According to the official Xinhua News Agency, there were at least 188 injuries reported on the Chinese side of Tibet. Over 1,000 homes suffered damage in the sparsely populated area, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. Videos highlighted the chaos, showcasing streets cluttered with building materials and crushed vehicles.
In northeastern Nepal, residents strongly felt the tremors, but initial assessments from the National Emergency Operation Center indicated no reports of injuries or structural damage. The region surrounding Mount Everest, approximately 75 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the earthquake’s epicenter, remained largely uninhabited during the deep winter months, with many locals relocating to avoid the harsh conditions.
The quake startled inhabitants of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, located around 230 kilometers (140 miles) from the epicenter, prompting people to flee to the streets in panic.
The U.S. Geological Survey registered the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 at a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles), while China’s Earthquake Networks Center reported a slightly lower magnitude of 6.8. Shallow earthquakes typically lead to greater destruction.
The epicenter of the quake was located in Tingri County, Tibet, a region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, occasionally sparking earthquakes powerful enough to alter the heights of some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.
While Tibet is administratively part of China, many Tibetan individuals align their loyalties with the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile in India since the failed uprising against Chinese authority in 1959. The Chinese government has faced ongoing criticism from Western nations and human rights organizations for alleged abuses in Tibet, alongside significant investments in economic development in the region.
The USGS reported that over the past century, the area has experienced 10 earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 6. Following Tuesday’s quake, approximately 150 aftershocks were recorded within the first nine hours. Additionally, the scenic Mount Everest area on the Chinese side has been closed to visitors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a comprehensive rescue effort aimed at saving lives, reducing injuries, and providing shelter for those whose homes were destroyed. More than 3,000 rescuers were sent to the location, according to CCTV.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was assigned to oversee the response efforts in the region, and the government pledged 100 million yuan (approximately $13.6 million) for disaster relief initiatives.
About 6,900 residents are estimated to live within three townships and 27 villages located within a 20-kilometer (12.5 miles) radius of the earthquake’s epicenter, as per state media reports. The average altitude in this area stands at about 4,200 meters (13,800 feet).
In a video from the southwest part of Kathmandu, water could be seen surging into the street from a courtyard pond that was adjacent to a small temple.
“It is a big earthquake,” a local woman stated in the footage. “People are all shaking.”
