Powerful earthquake kills at least 126 in western China
Nearly 200 reported injured as tremors felt as far away as Kathmandu in Nepal
A powerful earthquake struck a high-altitude region of western China and parts of Nepal on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and killing at least 126 people in Tibet, an autonomous region in China. The earthquake left many trapped, with aftershocks continuing to shake the area. Rescue workers scoured the rubble in the damaged villages, some using ladders to search for survivors among the debris.
Footage shared by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management depicted rescue workers carrying two individuals on stretchers over the wreckage of collapsed homes.
According to the official Xinhua News Agency, at least 188 people were injured in Tibet on the Chinese side of the border. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that around 1,000 houses had been damaged.
The earthquake, which struck with a magnitude of 7.1 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The earthquake’s magnitude was recorded as 6.8 by China. The region, where over the last century, 10 quakes of at least magnitude 6 have occurred, was home to about 6,900 people living in three townships and 27 villages located within 20 kilometers of the epicenter, according to state media. The area’s average altitude is around 4,200 meters.
The epicenter of the quake was located in Tibet's Tingri county, roughly 75 kilometers northeast of Mount Everest, where tectonic plates from India and Eurasia often collide, resulting in powerful earthquakes. These earthquakes can even affect the heights of peaks in the Himalayan mountains. Following the main quake, approximately 150 aftershocks were recorded in the following nine hours. As a precaution, the Mount Everest scenic area on the Chinese side was closed.
The area, typically busy with climbers and hikers, was largely deserted due to the winter season, with many residents moving south to escape the harsh conditions.
Around 1,500 fire and rescue workers were mobilized, with an additional 200 soldiers joining the effort. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged for immediate action to rescue survivors, reduce casualties, and assist those whose homes were damaged. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was sent to lead the rescue operation, which involved over 3,000 rescuers, according to CCTV.
Tibet, though part of China, has long had tensions due to its spiritual and cultural ties to the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile in India since 1959. The region has been a focal point of human rights concerns, with the Chinese government facing international criticism for its crackdown on dissent while heavily investing in economic development.
In Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, located around 230 kilometers from the epicenter, the earthquake sent residents fleeing from their homes into the streets.
