In brief
A major earthquake in Tibet's Shigatse city has led to at least 32 confirmed deaths and 38 injuries, as reported by Chinese state media.
The earthquake struck on Tuesday morning at approximately 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. A series of aftershocks followed the initial quake, which was felt in neighboring Nepal and India. The area, known for its frequent seismic activity due to its position on a major geological fault line, reported significant damage, with over 1,000 houses affected, as indicated by social media showing collapsing buildings.Shigatse is a culturally significant city for Tibetans, being the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism. While the official magnitude reported by Chinese media was slightly lower at 6.8, the impact remained substantial, with calls for rescue operations intensifying. Jiang Haikun, a researcher from the China Earthquake Networks Center, noted that aftershocks can be expected, but the risk of a larger earthquake is minimal.The Chinese air force has mobilized resources to assist in the aftermath, utilizing drones to assess the situation in the snow-covered region near Mount Everest, where freezing temperatures pose additional challenges. Power and water supplies have been disrupted as rescue efforts are complicated by the cold. Although shaking was experienced in parts of Nepal, local officials reported no casualties or damage.As the Tibet earthquake bureau continues to verify casualty figures, the region remains on alert due to its susceptibility to seismic events, recalling memories of past disasters, including the devastating 2015 earthquake near Kathmandu that claimed nearly 9,000 lives.
