Powerful earthquake in Tibet leaves 95 dead, tremors felt in Nepal and India

A devastating earthquake struck the southern region of Tibet on Tuesday morning, killing at least 95 people and injuring over 130, according to Chinese state media.

The tremors, described as strong and alarming, were felt across the Himalayan region, extending to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and parts of northern India.

The earthquake, which hit at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT), had a magnitude of 6.8, as reported by Chinese authorities.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as 7.1.

The epicenter was located near the city of Xigaze in the Xizang Autonomous Region or Tibet, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), intensifying its destructive force.

The disaster relief headquarters in Tibet confirmed the rising death toll, which stood at 53 earlier in the day before increasing to 95.

At least 130 others have been injured, some critically, while many remain trapped under the debris of collapsed structures.

Officials warn that the casualty figures are likely to rise further as rescue efforts progress.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed an “all-out” response, urging authorities to prioritize the rescue of those trapped and provide assistance to affected communities.

The western theater command of the People’s Liberation Army has activated its emergency disaster relief plan, deploying drones, helicopters, and ground forces to the quake-hit areas.

Military transport and medical planes have also been dispatched to assist in relief operations.

Footage from the town of Lhatse, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Xigaze, shows crumbled shopfronts and roads littered with debris.

Local government officials are working closely with various townships to assess the extent of damage, while search-and-rescue teams are racing against time to save lives.

The earthquake has raised concerns about potential damage to Shigatse, one of Tibet’s most important cities and the seat of the Panchen Lama, a figure of immense spiritual significance in Tibetan Buddhism.

Shigatse is home to historic monasteries and temples, which are now being inspected for structural damage.

The quake’s tremors were felt hundreds of kilometers away in Nepal and India.

In Kathmandu, residents fled their homes in panic as buildings swayed.

“It shook quite strongly here; everyone is awake, but we don’t know about any damages yet,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, a government official in Nepal’s Namche region near Mount Everest told news agencies.

No casualties have been reported in Nepal so far, but police and security forces have been mobilized to collect information from remote regions, particularly in the Himalayan areas near the quake’s epicenter.

Northern India’s Bihar state also reported significant tremors, prompting residents to evacuate buildings as a precaution.

The Himalayan region, including southwestern China and Nepal, is highly prone to earthquakes due to tectonic activity.

The Shigatse area alone has recorded 29 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3 or higher within a 200-kilometer (124-mile) radius in the past five years.

However, none of these quakes matched the intensity of Tuesday’s disaster.

Memories of past tragedies haunt the region.

In 2008, a massive earthquake in China’s Sichuan province claimed nearly 70,000 lives, while Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, killed approximately 9,000 people and left tens of thousands injured.

As dozens of aftershocks continue to rattle the region, fears of further destruction and instability persist.

Relief operations are in full swing, with local and national authorities working alongside the military to provide emergency aid, shelter, and medical assistance to the affected population.

(With input from Xinhua News, Anadolu Agency)