A powerful earthquake struck Dingri County in Tibet’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and injuring 62, according to Chinese state media.
The quake, reported as magnitude 6.8 by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, caused widespread destruction, with over 1,000 homes damaged or collapsed.
Videos from state broadcaster CCTV showed extensive rubble and rescue workers distributing blankets to survivors amidst frigid temperatures of minus 8 degrees Celsius, expected to plummet to minus 18 by night.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the urgency of rescue efforts, directing authorities to minimize casualties and provide adequate relief. Supplies including cotton tents, quilts, and high-altitude gear were dispatched to the affected area, home to approximately 62,000 residents near Mount Everest.
The tremors were felt across Nepal’s Kathmandu and Lobuche regions, as well as parts of India, though no significant damage or casualties were reported outside China.
This marks the strongest quake in the area within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years, according to the CENC. The disaster follows a series of recent deadly earthquakes in China, including a December 2023 tremor in Gansu province that killed 148 people.
