No fewer than 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 are injured after a major earthquake struck the mountainous Tibet region on Tuesday morning, Chinese state media say.
The earthquake that rocked Tibet’s sacred Shigatse city about 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) had a magnitude of 7.1 and a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), according to data from the US Geological Survey, which also showed a series of aftershocks in the vicinity.
Tremors were also reported in nearby Nepal and parts of India.
Earthquakes are common in the region, which is situated on a significant geological fault line. Shigatse is regarded as one of Tibet’s holiest cities.
It is the traditional home of the Panchen Lama, a significant person in Tibetan Buddhism with spiritual authority second only to the Dalai Lama.
Chinese authorities reportedly kidnapped Tibetan Gedhun Choekyi Niyima, who was regarded as the reincarnated Panchen Lama, when he was six years old.
China then selected its own Panchen Lama. The present Dalai Lama escaped Tibet to India in 1959 and has since been viewed as an alternative source of power by Tibetans who oppose Beijing’s dominance over the region.
Many people believe that when the current Dalai Lama dies, China will appoint its own.
Tuesday’s earthquake was one of China’s deadliest in recent years. CCTV footage showed destroyed houses and collapsed buildings, with rescue workers wading through debris and handing out thick blankets to residents.
Sitting at the foot of Mount Everest, Tingri County is a popular base for climbers preparing to reach the world’s tallest peak.
As a result of the incident, Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, have been cancelled, a tourism staff member told local media, adding that the sightseeing area has been fully closed.
There were three visitors in the sightseeing area who have all been moved to an outdoor area for safety, they stated.
Chinese media reported the earthquake as having a slightly lesser magnitude of 6.8, causing “obvious” tremors and leading to the damage of more than 1,000 houses. There have been several strong aftershocks.
According to Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Centre, another earthquake of around magnitude 5 is possible, but “the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low.”
Since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, it has maintained tight control over the autonomous region, including its media and internet access.
A hotel resident in Shigatse reported being jolted awake by a wave of shaking and grabbing his sock.
“It felt like even the bed was being lifted,” he said, adding that he immediately knew it was an earthquake because Tibet recently experienced multiple smaller quakes.
The Chinese air force and President Xi Jinping have launched rescue efforts and drones in the affected area to minimise casualties and resettle affected residents.
Nepal experienced strong tremors, but no major damage or casualties were reported, according to an official from the National Emergency Operations Centre. The region is located near a major fault line.
