A powerful earthquake in China’s Tibet region has claimed the lives of at least 32 people and caused significant damage, including the collapse of many buildings. The earthquake struck Dingri county, located near the Nepal border, at 9:05 am (0105 GMT) on Tuesday. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) measured the magnitude at 6.8, while the US Geological Survey reported it at 7.1.
According to state media, 38 people were injured, and the tremors were felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India. The quake caused severe destruction in Dingri county, where temperatures are around -8°C (17.6°F) and expected to drop further to -18°C. The county, home to 62,000 people, lies close to Mount Everest on the Tibetan side.
Videos from China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed collapsed homes and scattered debris. Local authorities are assessing the damage and providing aid. Nepal’s government reported strong shaking in areas around Everest, but no deaths or damage were reported there. Tremors were also felt in parts of India, including Bihar state, though no injuries were reported.
This quake is the most powerful recorded in the region in the last five years. While earthquakes are frequent in this seismically active area, the disaster has drawn comparisons to past deadly quakes, including the 2015 earthquake in Nepal that killed nearly 9,000 people.
In recent years, earthquakes in the region, such as one in December 2023, have caused significant casualties, including 148 deaths in northwest China.
