AFP cited China’s state-owned Xinhua news agency as saying that a severe Tibet earthquake of magnitude 7.1 slammed the region near the Nepalese border today, killing 126 people and wounding 200 more. At 9:05 a.m. local time, a strong earthquake struck Dingri County in the Tibet autonomous region’s city of Xigaze. It caused tremors in neighboring Nepal as well as in regions of India, such as Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal.

Two aftershocks with magnitudes of 4.7 and 4.9 struck at 7:02 and 7:07 a.m., respectively, after the first earthquake, which was recorded by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) at 6:35 a.m. The US Geological Survey put the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.1; however, the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said it was 6.8.

More than 1,000 homes were destroyed, and other structures close to Dingri collapsed, causing extensive damage at the epicenter. CCTV footage from the Chinese official broadcaster showed broken walls, wrecked houses, and rubble all over the streets. The Tibet earthquake has highlighted the vulnerability of the region to seismic activities, prompting urgent disaster response measures.

Rescue Operations and President Xi Jinping’s Response

In order to minimize deaths, relocate impacted households, and ensure their safety during the bitterly cold winter, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a comprehensive rescue operation. Dingri’s temperatures are currently at -8 degrees Celsius, and at night, they are expected to plummet to minus 18.

Rescue crews have been called in, clearing debris and giving residents blankets and other necessities. Central authorities have sent disaster assistance supplies to affected areas, including cotton tents and blankets for cold and high-altitude regions.

Areas close to Everest, such as Namche and Lobuche, experienced powerful tremors in Nepal, although no fatalities or significant damage were recorded. Similarly, tremors in Bihar, India, prompted locals to flee their houses, although no damage or casualties were reported.

Historical Context and Regional Vulnerability

The Himalayas are the result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates in a geologically active zone that includes Tibet and the neighboring areas. This region is prone to earthquakes, and Tuesday’s was the strongest one to be recorded within 200 km in the previous five years.

Devastating earthquakes have occurred in the area before, such as the 2015 Nepal tragedy that left over 22,000 people injured and almost 9,000 dead. More recently, 148 people were killed, and many were displaced by an earthquake in northwest China in 2023, and rescue efforts were hampered by the bitter cold.

Concerns over planning and response strategies for future catastrophes are raised by Tuesday’s earthquake, which emphasizes the Himalayan region’s ongoing susceptibility to seismic activity.

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