China says 53 dead after 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Tibet
SUMMARY
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and injuring 62, according to Chinese state media. The tremor hit Dingri County in Shigatse, near the Nepalese border, just after 9 a.m. local time. The region, home to the Panchen Lama’s seat, experienced widespread destruction, with many homes collapsing and residents trapped. Nearly 6,900 people in nearby villages were affected. Chinese authorities, classifying the quake as magnitude 6.8, deployed 1,500 rescue personnel to the mountainous area. Tremors were also felt 250 miles away in Kathmandu, Nepal, but no immediate damage was reported there. The Himalayan region, located along a major fault line between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes. The disaster follows other devastating quakes in the region, including Nepal’s 2015 quake, which killed nearly 9,000, and Sichuan’s 2008 tragedy, which claimed 70,000 lives. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
