95 dead as 6.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Xizang, China

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook the northern foothills of the Himalayas near Tibet’s sacred city on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 95 dead and 130 injured, Chinese authorities reported.

Neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India also felt tremors as buildings swayed in the quake’s aftermath.

The epicenter, located in Tingri County—often called the northern gateway to the Everest region—struck at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.

However, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake’s magnitude as 7.1.

The disaster unfolded around 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak and a favored destination for climbers.

Despite being off-season for mountaineering, the quake left the Tibetan Shigatse region, home to 800,000 people, significantly impacted.

China’s President Xi Jinping called for comprehensive search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties and ensure the safety and well-being of the affected.

More than 1,500 firefighters and rescue personnel have been deployed to the region, along with essential supplies, including cotton tents, coats, quilts, and folding beds.

In Nepal, which frequently experiences earthquakes due to tectonic activity, the tremors were felt across seven hill districts bordering Tibet.

Officials reported no immediate loss of life or property but noted that many remote villages in the area remain inaccessible.

The quake serves as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability, caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Rescue and relief operations are underway to provide aid to affected communities as winter’s harsh conditions loom.