A devastating earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude struck the northern Himalayan foothills near Tibet’s Xigaze city on Tuesday, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. The quake, which occurred at 9:05 am local time, has claimed the lives of at least 126 people and injured over 180 others.
The China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) reported that the earthquake hit Dingri County in Xigaze, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, with a depth of 10 km. The tremors were felt across neighboring regions, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India, with reports of damage and casualties pouring in.
In Tibet alone, 95 fatalities were reported, with over 3,600 homes destroyed in the Shigatse area. Emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the region, with over 500 personnel and 106 ambulances providing aid to affected areas. Essential supplies, including tents, food, and generators, were also delivered to the region.
The earthquake’s impact was felt across northern India, with tremors reported in Delhi-NCR and parts of Bihar. A separate 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Nepal also caused tremors in the region, highlighting the seismic activity in the Himalayan region.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located near the Nepal-Tibet border, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, causing uplifts in the Himalayan mountains.
The earthquake is the strongest recorded in the region over the past five years, and its impact is a stark reminder of the seismic risks faced by countries in the Himalayan region. The 2015 Nepal earthquake, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives and left over 22,000 injured, is a sobering example of the devastating impact of earthquakes in the region.
