7.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Tibet Claims 126 Lives, Rescue Efforts Underway
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Tibet near Mount Everest on Tuesday, leaving at least 126 people dead and 188 injured on the Chinese side of the border, according to reports by the Associated Press and China’s Xinhua News Agency. The epicenter was located in Tingri County, about 50 miles from Mount Everest, at a shallow depth of six miles.
The quake caused widespread destruction, damaging more than 1,000 homes in the region. Rescue teams, including over 3,000 personnel, are racing against time to search for survivors amidst the rubble in hard-hit villages. Videos from China’s Ministry of Emergency Management show rescuers navigating uneven debris to carry survivors on stretchers.
The earthquake also shook residents in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, located 140 miles from the epicenter, prompting many to flee their homes in panic. Over 50 aftershocks were recorded within three hours of the initial quake, and the Mount Everest scenic area on the Chinese side has been closed as a precaution.
The affected region in Tibet, with an altitude of around 13,800 feet, encompasses three townships and 27 villages within a 12.5-mile radius of the epicenter. The disaster has left thousands vulnerable as rescue operations continue.
This tragedy has sparked a major relief effort in the high-altitude region as authorities and international agencies work to assist those affected and assess the full scale of the damage.