A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the northern foothills of the Himalayas on Tuesday, causing significant devastation near one of Tibet’s revered cities. The quake, which occurred at 9:05 am local time, had its epicenter in Tingri, a rural area recognized as the northern access point to the Everest region, and it struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles). Reports indicate that at least 53 people lost their lives and 62 others sustained injuries, with the tremors felt across a vast region inhabited by around 800,000 individuals, particularly in Shigatse, a historical center for Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Villages in Tingri experienced intense shaking, followed by several aftershocks, the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.4. Local authorities were quick to coordinate with surrounding towns to assess the situation and determine the extent of the damage and casualties, as confirmed by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. The earthquake’s impact was felt far beyond Tibet, with tremors reaching as far as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, located approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, prompting residents to flee their homes in panic. Anoj Raj Ghimire, the chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal, reported that while they felt a strong quake, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. He mentioned that local police and security forces were deployed to gather information on the situation. Additionally, the quake was felt in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, and in the northern Indian state of Bihar, which shares a border with Nepal, highlighting the widespread reach of this seismic event.
53 people lost their lives in a strong earthquake in Tibet.
