Tibet Earthquake Kills 53, Injures Dozens In China

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck Dingri County in Tibet’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 53 people dead, 62 injured, and more than 1,000 homes damaged, according to Chinese state media.

The tremor, which occurred near the border with Nepal at 9:05 am local time, caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and scattering debris across towns. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) confirmed the quake’s magnitude at 6.8, while the US Geological Survey reported it as 7.1.

Videos shared by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed destroyed homes, rubble-strewn streets, and surveillance footage of residents running for safety as shelves in stores shook violently. Rescue workers were seen distributing thick blankets to locals as temperatures in the region plunged to minus 8 degrees Celsius, expected to drop further to minus 18 by nightfall.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “full-scale search and rescue efforts” to minimize casualties and ensure the safety and warmth of affected residents during the winter. Disaster relief supplies, including cotton tents, quilts, and cold-weather gear, were dispatched to the high-altitude region, which is home to approximately 62,000 people and located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest.

The earthquake’s impact extended beyond China, with tremors felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India. In Nepal’s Namche region near Everest, residents reported strong shaking, though no casualties or major damage had been recorded as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Nepal’s Home Ministry.

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in the Himalayan region due to tectonic activity along the Indian and Eurasian plates. However, Tuesday’s quake is the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometre radius in the past five years, according to the CENC.

The devastating tremor is reminiscent of past seismic events in the region. In December 2023, an earthquake in northwest China’s Gansu province claimed 148 lives, while subzero temperatures complicated relief efforts. Similarly, Nepal suffered significant losses in 2015 when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000.

As rescue teams in Tibet work to assess the full extent of the damage, authorities have warned of the challenges posed by the harsh winter and remote terrain. Local officials are reaching out to impacted townships to provide aid and assistance as the region braces for a difficult recovery.