Hong Kong At least 95 people were killed Tuesday by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred close to one of Tibet’s most sacred cities, according to Chinese state media.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake, which was detected just after 9 a.m. (8 p.m. ET Monday), was centered at a depth of almost 6 miles.
The earthquake struck Dingri County in Shigatse, a hilly area of western China that borders Nepal, and was measured by Chinese authorities as a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. The Panchen Lama, the second most significant spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama, resides in Shigatse, which is roughly 240 miles from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua, reports that at least 95 people were killed and 130 injured. Some people were trapped as numerous homes close to the epicenter fell.
Chinese state television CCTV said that more than two dozen villages, home to roughly 6,900 people, are located within 12 miles of the epicenter.
According to locals, one factor contributing to the high death toll was the shoddy building of houses close to the epicenter.
Sangji Dangzhi, 34, told the AFP news agency that the situation was extremely critical and that his grocery in nearby Tingri county was devastated.
Since the homes are built of dirt here, many of them collapsed during the earthquake, Dangzhi continued.
Videos from Lhatse county in Shigatse, whose location was confirmed by NBC News, showed billboards that had been ripped apart and, in some cases, buildings whose walls and roofs had completely collapsed closer to the epicenter of the earthquake.
Other footage showed roadsides littered with fallen trees and rubble, with multiple cars trembling violently as they were hit by the debris. The blocks of concrete that had once been sidewalks were scattered.
Liu Huazhong, the deputy mayor of Shigatse, stated during a press conference that more than 3,400 military and firefighting troops, together with 340 medical workers, have been sent to the region by Chinese authorities.
150 cars with search and rescue equipment had been dispatched, Liu continued, and power disruptions had been recorded in a number of locations.
“A batch of disaster relief supplies including self-heating rice, mineral water, instant noodles, cold-resistant coats, cold-resistant shoes, blankets, beds, and tents has been urgently allocated by the townships,” Liu stated.
Residents of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, which is 250 miles away, were also awakened by the vibrations.
There was no damage reported right away.
The Himalayan region, which is situated along a fault line between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, experiences frequent earthquakes. According to the USGS, there have been ten earthquakes of a magnitude of six or higher within 150 miles of Tuesday’s epicenter in the last century.
In 2008, a huge earthquake in the Sichuan province in southwest China killed about 70,000 people.
One of the deadliest earthquakes in Nepal’s history, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2015 destroyed about a million buildings and claimed nearly 9,000 lives.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!