A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck the remote Tibetan plateau near the Nepal border on Tuesday, leaving at least 95 dead and over 130 injured in its wake. The tremor, which hit Tingri County in Tibet’s Xigaze City, caused buildings to collapse, roads to fracture, and sent goods tumbling off supermarket shelves, sparking panic across the region. Dozens of aftershocks followed, further complicating rescue operations.
Footage captured in Shigatse showed shoppers fleeing as goods toppled, while rescue workers scoured mounds of debris in a desperate hunt for survivors. China’s ministry of emergency management confirmed at least 1,000 homes were damaged, leaving streets littered with rubble and cars crushed under fallen debris.
Widespread destruction
The earthquake struck at 9.05 am local time, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Its epicentre was in Tingri County, a sparsely populated area with just under 7,000 residents across 27 villages. Reports indicate significant damage to infrastructure, with authorities deploying over 3,000 rescuers and activating emergency relief measures.
As rescue operations continue, the death toll stands at 95, with more than 130 injured. Many remain trapped under rubble, while freezing temperatures and ongoing aftershocks complicate rescue efforts. Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities, suffered significant damage, reminiscent of its plight during the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to rescue trapped residents, minimise casualties, and secure shelter for displaced families. The central government dispatched 22,000 disaster relief items, including winter supplies like tents and quilts, to the region, which experiences harsh winters at altitudes exceeding 4,000 metres.
In Nepal, the tremors were strongly felt in the capital, Kathmandu, 230 kilometres away, and other northern districts, forcing residents to flee to open spaces. Though no fatalities were reported in Nepal, minor damage to buildings was recorded, particularly in high-altitude areas like Solukhumbu near Mount Everest.
Aftershocks and historical seismic activity
Approximately 50 aftershocks were recorded within hours, with magnitudes reaching up to 4.5. The Tibetan plateau, situated at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is highly prone to earthquakes. Past disasters in the region include the devastating 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal and caused significant damage in Tibet.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama expressed condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and destruction. Meanwhile, the Chinese military deployed drones and air support to assess the disaster zone, with Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing overseeing relief efforts on-site.