A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday morning, killing at least 95 people and injuring 140, while several buildings collapsed. According to the French news agency ‘AFP’, tremors were also felt in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and parts of India in the vicinity of Tibet. Videos released by China’s state broadcaster ‘CCTV’ can be seen showing the walls of damaged houses broken after the earthquake and debris scattered in the ruins. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was recorded at a magnitude of 7.1. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the earthquake was recorded at a magnitude of 6.8, which was felt at 9:05 a.m. local time near the Nepalese border. China’s news agency ‘Xinhua’, citing regional disaster relief headquarters, said that the Tibet Autonomous Region of Xizang A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Zhigao in Sichuan province, killing 53 people and injuring more than 62. The death toll is expected to rise, according to Xinhua, with local authorities contacting various townships in the county to assess the impact of the earthquake.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, the temperature in Dingri is around minus 8 degrees Celsius and will drop to minus 18 in the evening. The highest county in the Tibetan region is home to about 62,000 people and is located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest. The CENC said that although earthquakes are common in the region, Tuesday’s earthquake was the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years. On the other hand, in addition to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, the area around Loboche in the high mountains near Everest in Nepal was also shaken by the earthquake and aftershocks. According to Chinese media, the earthquake tremors were also felt in India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. According to a CCTV report, there are few settlements within 5 kilometers of the epicenter of the earthquake, which is 380 kilometers away from the Tibetan capital.