New York: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude struck the northern Himalayan foothills near Tibet’s Xigaze city on January 7 morning, causing significant destruction and loss of life. At least 126 people lost their lives, and more than 180 were injured as buildings trembled across neighboring regions, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India.
The China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) reported that the quake hit Dingri County in Xigaze, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, at 9.05 am (Beijing Time) with a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). According to Chinese state media, 95 fatalities occurred within Tibet alone.
Tremors from the earthquake were also felt across northern India, including Delhi-NCR and parts of Bihar. An initial assessment revealed that 3,609 homes were destroyed in Tibet’s Shigatse area, which has a population of around 800,000. Over 500 emergency responders and 106 ambulances were dispatched to the region to provide aid.
Emergency supplies such as tents, food, and generators were delivered to affected areas by January 7 evening, while damaged roads were repaired to facilitate rescue operations, as reported by China's state broadcaster CCTV.
In Nepal's capital Kathmandu, residents reportedly ran out of their houses after strong tremors. The country's disaster management authority said the tremors were felt in seven hill districts bordering Tibet.
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the first 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Xizang, near the Nepal-Tibet border, at 6:35 am. This intensity is considered strong and is capable of causing severe damage. Chinese officials recorded the magnitude at 6.8 in Shigatse city, Tibet's second-largest city. Two aftershocks of 4.7 and 4.9 intensity were reported from the same Xizang area.
According to China's state broadcaster CCTV, there have been 29 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3 or higher within 200 km of Shigatse city in the past five years, all of which were smaller than the one that struck on Tuesday morning.
