Earthquake near Everest leaves over 120 dead – Xinhua

An earthquake has struck Tibet in the foothills of Mount Everest

A powerful earthquake rocked China’s Tibet Autonomous Region near Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, early on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people and injuring 188, news agency Xinhua has reported. 

The quake’s epicenter was located in remote Dingri County, about 50 miles (80 kms) north of Mount Everest, and at a shallow depth of six miles, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The quake, which occurred just after 9 am local time, had a magnitude of 7.1, the US Geological Survey reported, while Chinese authorities measured it at 6.8. 

In Shigatse city, a significant center for Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, numerous buildings were reduced to rubble. Media showed footage of firefighters pulling an injured person from a collapsed house and soldiers setting up emergency shelters. 

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Temperatures in the area plummeted to minus six degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday night and were forecast to drop further, complicating rescue and relief operations. 

The tremors were felt across neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India. 

In Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, residents reported shaking but no significant damage. Similarly, the quake was felt in the northern Indian state of Bihar, though no major incidents were reported. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive rescue efforts to minimize casualties and ensure the resettlement of those affected. The government has allocated 100 million yuan (approximately $13.6 million) for disaster relief. 

Additionally, Mount Qomolangma (Everest) Scenic Area on the Chinese side has been closed as a precautionary measure. The region has experienced over 150 aftershocks, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 4.4. 

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile, expressed his condolences, stating he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life, and extended his prayers for the victims. 

The Dalai Lama is the leader of the Tibetan government in exile, which is pushing for autonomy within China, and has lived in India since the 1960s. Beijing considers the government-in-exile illegal and regards any outside support for the cause of Tibetan autonomy to be interference in its internal affairs.

The region is vulnerable to seismic events, attributed to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake near the Nepalese capital resulted in approximately 9,000 deaths.