A devastating magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook the northern foothills of the Himalayas near Tibet’s holy city of Shigatse on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 95 people dead and 130 injured, Chinese authorities confirmed. The tremor also caused panic in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India.
The quake struck Tingri County, a rural area near Mount Everest, at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The US Geological Service later recorded the quake’s magnitude as 7.1.
Widespread Impact
The quake’s epicenter was located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, a popular destination for climbers. Tremors were felt as far as Kathmandu, Nepal, 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, and in Thimphu, Bhutan. Residents in affected areas reported strong shaking and aftershocks.
In Tibet’s Shigatse region, where over 800,000 people reside, reports confirmed significant damage, with over 1,000 houses impacted. Video footage from Lhatse County showed crumbled shopfronts and debris-filled streets, underscoring the extent of destruction.
Emergency Response
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out search and rescue effort” to minimize casualties and provide shelter for those affected. Over 1,500 rescue workers have been deployed, along with 22,000 relief items, including tents, coats, and folding beds, according to state media.
The Mount Everest region has been closed to tourists, and local officials are working to assess the full impact across Tingri’s villages, which lie at altitudes of 4,000–5,000 meters (13,000–16,000 feet).
Effects Beyond Tibet
In Nepal, the tremors were felt across seven hill districts bordering Tibet. However, the Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported no major damage or casualties in these sparsely populated regions.
Kathmandu residents, shaken by memories of the catastrophic 2015 earthquake, fled their homes in fear. “The bed was shaking … I’m still shaking out of fear,” said local resident Meera Adhikari. One person in Kathmandu sustained injuries after jumping off a building during the tremors.
Geological Context
Tuesday’s quake occurred in the Lhasa block, an area under significant tectonic stress. The region has experienced 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher since 1950, including a 6.9-magnitude tremor in 2017. Experts have linked these quakes to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which frequently cause seismic activity in the region.
This earthquake follows the tragic 2015 Nepal quake, which claimed over 9,000 lives and caused widespread destruction, including avalanches on Mount Everest.