The 7.1 magnitude earthquake that shook Tibet overnight from Monday to Tuesday killed at least 95 people and injured 130 in western China. Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble.
A strong earthquake killed at least 95 people in Tibet on Tuesday, according to a latest report. Many residents are still believed to be trapped under the rubble of their homes as dozens of aftershocks shook this region in western China and across the border with Nepal.
The official Xinhua news agency said at least 130 people were also injured, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters. About 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to search for people in the rubble, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 (6.8 according to Chinese authorities) and was relatively shallow. The epicenter was about 75 kilometers northeast of Mount Everest, which straddles the border.
The region is well known for its seismic activity where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide and cause uplifts in the Himalayan mountains strong enough to change the height of some of the world’s highest peaks.
The average altitude in the area around the epicenter is around 4,200 meters, the China Seismic Network Center said in a social media post. State broadcaster CCTV said there were a handful of communities within 5 kilometers of the epicenter, which is 380 kilometers from Tibet’s capital Lhasa and about 23 kilometers from the second largest major center of the region, the town of Shigatse, known as Xigaze in Chinese.
About 230 kilometers away, in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, the earthquake woke residents and sent them pouring out of their homes onto the streets.
As the search continues to find survivors in Tibet, the Dalai Lama has expressed his emotion towards the victims of the disaster.
“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the devastating earthquake that struck Dingri, Tibet, and surrounding areas this morning. It caused the tragic loss of many lives, numerous injuries and widespread destruction. of homes and goods”.
“I extend my prayers to those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured”adds the Dalai Lama, in exile in India for several years.
