China At least 32 dead after earthquake in Tibet
At least 32 people have died in a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the Chinese region of Tibet. According to the state news agency Xinhua, at least 38 people were also injured. Many houses collapsed near the epicenter, the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
07.01.2025, 06:10
SDA
The quake occurred in Tingri County, which is located on the north side of Mount Everest and around 400 kilometers west of the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
According to Xinhua, the tremors were clearly felt in the surrounding area. Several communities were affected. Rescue work is underway. Residents are also being evacuated to avoid the possible effects of aftershocks.
Region is frequently hit by earthquakes
Pictures and videos on social media showed sidewalks lined with rubble and partially collapsed, mainly single-storey buildings.
Unlike the Chinese authorities, who gave the quake a magnitude of 6.8, the US Earthquake Monitoring Station (USGS) recorded a value of 7.1. Aftershocks were also registered.
Tibet and the entire south-western part of China, Nepal and northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. A devastating quake in the Chinese province of Sichuan in 2008 claimed around 70,000 lives. In 2015, another strong quake struck the region around Kathmandu in Nepal, killing around 9,000 people and injuring thousands more.
