Over 120 dead in earthquake near Everest, reports Xinhua
A powerful earthquake has struck a region of Tibet close to the world's highest peak, resulting in 126 fatalities and 188 injuries, according to a report from Xinhua. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A strong earthquake has struck Tibet, specifically in the foothills of Mount Everest, early Tuesday, resulting in at least 126 fatalities and injuring 188 individuals, as reported by the news agency Xinhua.
The epicenter of the quake was situated in the remote Dingri County, roughly 50 miles north of Mount Everest, occurring at a shallow depth of six miles, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The magnitude of the tremor was registered at 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, while Chinese authorities reported it as 6.8.
In Shigatse city, an important center for Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional home of the Panchen Lama, many buildings were left in ruins. Footage from media outlets displayed firefighters rescuing an injured individual from a collapsed structure and soldiers establishing emergency shelters.
Temperatures in the affected region dropped to minus six degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, with forecasts predicting further declines, making rescue and relief operations more challenging.
The earthquake's tremors were felt across adjacent countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India. In Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, residents experienced shaking but reported no significant damage. Similarly, the quake reached the northern Indian state of Bihar, though no major incidents were noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged comprehensive rescue efforts to reduce casualties and facilitate resettlement for those impacted. The government has allocated 100 million yuan for disaster relief.
As a precautionary measure, the Mount Qomolangma Scenic Area on the Chinese side has been closed. The region has also recorded over 150 aftershocks, the largest of which reached a magnitude of 4.4.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile, conveyed his condolences, expressing he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and offered his prayers for the victims.
As the leader of the Tibetan government in exile, which advocates for autonomy within China, the Dalai Lama has been residing in India since the 1960s. The Chinese government deems the exile administration illegal and views any external support for Tibetan autonomy as interference in its internal affairs.
This region is prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, and in 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake near Nepal's capital resulted in approximately 9,000 deaths.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
The epicenter of the quake was situated in the remote Dingri County, roughly 50 miles north of Mount Everest, occurring at a shallow depth of six miles, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The magnitude of the tremor was registered at 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, while Chinese authorities reported it as 6.8.
In Shigatse city, an important center for Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional home of the Panchen Lama, many buildings were left in ruins. Footage from media outlets displayed firefighters rescuing an injured individual from a collapsed structure and soldiers establishing emergency shelters.
Temperatures in the affected region dropped to minus six degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, with forecasts predicting further declines, making rescue and relief operations more challenging.
The earthquake's tremors were felt across adjacent countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India. In Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, residents experienced shaking but reported no significant damage. Similarly, the quake reached the northern Indian state of Bihar, though no major incidents were noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged comprehensive rescue efforts to reduce casualties and facilitate resettlement for those impacted. The government has allocated 100 million yuan for disaster relief.
As a precautionary measure, the Mount Qomolangma Scenic Area on the Chinese side has been closed. The region has also recorded over 150 aftershocks, the largest of which reached a magnitude of 4.4.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile, conveyed his condolences, expressing he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and offered his prayers for the victims.
As the leader of the Tibetan government in exile, which advocates for autonomy within China, the Dalai Lama has been residing in India since the 1960s. The Chinese government deems the exile administration illegal and views any external support for Tibetan autonomy as interference in its internal affairs.
This region is prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, and in 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake near Nepal's capital resulted in approximately 9,000 deaths.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
