Beijing, Jan 7: A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet’s Xigaze region on Tuesday morning, killing at least 92 people and injuring 62, as tremors were felt as far away as neighboring Nepal, prompting widespread panic and forcing residents to rush outdoors.
The earthquake hit Dingri County in Xigaze, known as Shigatse, at 9:05 a.m. (Beijing Time), according to regional disaster relief authorities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), however, recorded the quake’s magnitude as 7.1.
State-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the death toll stood at 92 by midday, with dozens injured. The epicenter was located in Tsogo Township, home to about 6,900 people within a 20-km radius. Dingri County, with a population of over 61,000, is situated near the Nepalese border and the Khumbu Himalayan range.
Emergency Response Underway
Following the disaster, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue effort, emphasizing the need to prevent secondary disasters, ensure proper resettlement, and provide a safe winter for affected residents. Xi called for swift allocation of emergency supplies, repair of damaged infrastructure, and heightened earthquake monitoring and early warnings.
Both the China Earthquake Administration and the Xizang Autonomous Region issued a level-II emergency response, dispatching over 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers to the quake-hit areas. Relief materials, including 22,000 items like tents, coats, quilts, and special supplies for high-altitude regions, have been sent to the disaster zone.
Shigatse: A Sacred Region and Seismic Hotspot
Shigatse, considered one of Tibet’s holiest cities, is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, second in spiritual authority to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan plateau, sitting at the collision point of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is highly earthquake-prone.
The region was significantly affected by the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, which killed over 9,000 people and left 18 dead in Shigatse.
Tremors Shake Nepal
The quake’s impact was also felt across northern Nepal, particularly in Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, and Solukhumbu districts. In Kathmandu, panic-stricken residents fled their homes as buildings, trees, and electric wires swayed.
Bishwo Adhikari, a Nepal Police spokesperson, stated that while there were no immediate reports of casualties, a two-story stone building was damaged in Kimathanka Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha District.
The USGS reported at least six aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4 to 5, within an hour of the main quake. The tremors reignited memories of the 2015 disaster, which continues to cast a shadow over the region.
As rescue and relief efforts continue, both Tibet and Nepal brace for the aftermath of yet another seismic tragedy in the Himalayan region.
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