Tibet earthquake near China-Nepal border kills at least 125
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The 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit a region that is a key stop on the route to the North Base Camp, where climbers begin their ascent of Mount Everest.
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In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers transfer the injured at Zhacun village of Dingri Country in Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP)
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck a remote area of southern Tibet near China's border with Nepal on Tuesday morning, killing at least 125 people and injuring 188, according to Chinese state media.
Liu Huazhong, the deputy mayor of Shigatse, broke down in tears during a news conference as he announced the casualties and damage. The quake hit Tingri county, home to 60,000 residents, at 9:05 am Beijing time, CCTV reported. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at 7.1 magnitude, while Chinese authorities classified it as a 6.8-magnitude event.
The tremor caused the collapse of more than 3,600 homes, according to the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-most-important religious leader in Tibetan Buddhism, lies near the quake's epicenter.
The China Earthquake Networks Center recorded multiple aftershocks and warned of more in the coming days. Tibet is part of the seismically active Himalayan region and is prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged an all-out search-and-rescue operation to reduce casualties, stressing that authorities must "repair damaged infrastructure as soon as possible, arrange basic living arrangements for the people, and ensure people are safe and warm through the winter," CCTV reported.
Approximately 12,000 emergency responders were sent to search through rubble and evacuate survivors. By Tuesday night, 407 people trapped in the debris had been rescued, according to the People’s Daily.
Tingri, located at an elevation of 14,100 feet and about 236 miles from Lhasa, is a major stop for climbers heading to the North Base Camp of Mount Everest. The region can experience extremely cold temperatures, often dropping to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-15 degrees Celsius) in January. Local tourism officials closed the North Base Camp until further notice.
🚨 #Terremoto
— Ciro Di Costanzo (@CiroDi) January 7, 2025
Al menos 126 personas murieron y 188 más resultaron heridas, tras el terremoto de magnitud 6.8 en el distrito de Dingri, en Xizang, en la región china del Tíbet. pic.twitter.com/VCfPkBEWCp
Power and internet services were down in parts of Shigatse by Tuesday afternoon, CCTV reported.
A Tingri resident, identified only as Wang, told local media that the tremor initially felt similar to the massive 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed 70,000. She said her house's second floor collapsed, crushing her car.
