A catastrophic 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet: at least 126 people fatalities

A strong earthquake of 7.1 magnitude rattled a remote region of Tibet. The earthquake hit on Tuesday morning around 9:05 a.m. local time, while the epicenter was in Tingri County, high on the Tibetan Plateau, near the border with Nepal. Specifically, it was approximately 80km north of Mount Everest at a depth of 10km. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the earthquake, which was followed by numerous aftershocks, caused tremors at Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India. According to China’s Earthquake Networks Center, over 500 aftershocks had been recorded, with 27 exceeding a magnitude of 3.0. 

Unfortunately, the earthquake resulted in the death of at least 126 people, while 188 were injured. Additionally, according to the authorities, at least 3600 houses were damaged. Authorities also stated that emergency services, Chinese Military with more than 1,600 Chinese soldiers and paramilitary police, have started tremendous rescue operations with the aid of drones, helicopters and transport aircraft. They managed to save over 400 people beneath the debris while more than 30,000 people forced to evacuate their residences for safety reasons. It is mentioned that authorities have dispatched emergency supplies, including tents and winter gear, to affected areas where temperatures are forecast to fall below -18°C (-0°F).

Video footages that were shared on media shows collapsed structures, rubble-strewn villages, and rescuers searching for survivors with their bare hands as the Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, urged officials to prioritize rescue efforts, minimize casualties, and ensure residents' safety amid plunging temperatures.