The death toll from the earthquake in Tibet this morning has reached 126, according to Chinese state media. The number of injured has risen to 188, with many people still trapped under debris.
Approximately 3,600 homes have been damaged. The earthquake, measuring 7.1 in magnitude, struck the Tingri region near Mount Everest at around 9:00 AM local time.
There have been 150 aftershocks, several with magnitudes between 4 and 5. Images show numerous collapsed or damaged buildings.
The quake was also felt in northern India and Bhutan, and in Kathmandu, Nepal, about 230 kilometers from the epicenter, people awakened and ran into the streets. The Chinese government has launched a rescue operation involving 3,400 rescuers and 340 medical workers, with 13 million euros allocated for emergency aid.
The affected area is difficult to access, as Tingri is a sparsely populated region at high altitudes. In a 20-kilometer radius from the epicenter, there are about 6,900 people living across 30 villages, some reachable only on foot.
Night temperatures can drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius, prompting China’s weather bureau to advise people to seek shelter. Authorities have dispatched tents, beds, and jackets to the area.
The region often experiences strong earthquakes due to its location in the Himalayas, where many of the world’s tallest mountains are. There are no reports of damage or casualties near Mount Everest, according to Nepalese authorities.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile in India, expressed deep sorrow in a statement.
Source: NOS