At least 53 people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured, following a powerful earthquake that struck Tibet’s mountainous region on Tuesday morning, according to Chinese state media.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Shigatse, a holy city in Tibet, around 9:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), as reported by the US Geological Survey.
The area experienced multiple aftershocks, and tremors were felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of India.
Earthquakes are common in this region, which lies on a major geological fault line.
Shigatse is regarded as one of Tibet’s holiest cities and serves as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism, second in authority only to the Dalai Lama.
Tibetan Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognized as the reincarnated Panchen Lama, disappeared under mysterious circumstances at the age of six, with China later appointing its own Panchen Lama.
The current Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 and remains a symbolic figure of Tibetan resistance against Beijing’s control. Many fear China will appoint its own Dalai Lama upon his passing.
Footage from China’s state broadcaster CCTV shows collapsed buildings and rescue teams navigating through debris, providing thick blankets to affected residents.
Temperatures in Tingri County, near the earthquake’s epicenter, have plummeted to -8°C (17.6°F) and are expected to drop further to -18°C (0°F) by evening, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
Both power and water supplies in the area have been disrupted.
Sitting at the foot of Mount Everest, Tingri county is a popular base for climbers preparing to ascend the world’s tallest peak.
Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, have been cancelled, a tourism staff told local media, adding that the sightseeing area has been fully closed.
There were three visitors in the sightseeing area who have all been moved to an outdoor area for safety, they said.
Chinese state media reported the earthquake as having a slightly lesser magnitude of 6.8, causing “obvious” tremors and leading to the damage of more than 1,000 houses. There have been several strong aftershocks.
Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, told CCTV that while another earthquake of around magnitude 5 may still occur, “the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low”.
Since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, it has kept a tight control over the autonomous region, including its media and internet access.
A hotel resident in Shigatse told Chinese media outlet Fengmian News that he was jolted awake by a wave of shaking. He said he grabbed his socks and rushed out onto the street, where he saw helicopters circling above.
“It felt like even the bed was being lifted,” he said, adding that he immediately knew it was an earthquake because Tibet recently experienced multiple smaller quakes.
The Chinese air force has launched rescue efforts and drones to the affected area.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has also called for all-out search and rescue efforts to minimise casualties and resettle affected residents.
While tremors were felt in Nepal, no damage or casualties were reported, a local official in Nepal’s Namche region, near Everest, told AFP.
The region, which lies near a major fault line of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is home to frequent seismic activity. In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 20,000.