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6.8-Magnitude Quake in Tibet Kills 126, Thousands Homeless Amid Ongoing Rescues

Jan 8, 2025, 04:21 AM

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck China's remote Tibet region near the Nepal border on Tuesday morning, killing at least 126 people and injuring 188 others. The quake occurred at 9:05 am local time in Dingri County, Shigatse City, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, causing the collapse of over 3,600 buildings and leaving many people trapped under rubble. More than 500 aftershocks have been recorded. Rescue efforts are underway, with over 14,000 personnel, including the People's Liberation Army, using drones and Y-20 aircraft to search for survivors in freezing temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius. More than 400 people have been rescued, and over 46,000 residents have been relocated to temporary shelters. The Chinese government has raised the emergency response to Level I, the highest level, and allocated 100 million yuan for disaster relief to restore infrastructure and provide aid to affected areas. The Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest) scenic area has been temporarily closed, though no geological disasters like avalanches have been observed on the mountain. Tremors were felt in neighboring Nepal's capital Kathmandu and parts of India. International condolences have been expressed by several countries, including India, the United States, Turkey, Armenia, and others.