Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake leaves 130 dead in China's Tibet region near Nepal

Rescue workers are braving frigid temperatures to search for survivors after a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Rescue workers in Tibet are braving frigid temperatures to search for survivors after a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 130 people. The quake, which struck Tibet's holy Shigatse city at 9:05 a.m., local time on Tuesday jolted residents and visitors near the northern foothills of Mount Everest, according to state media.

At least 200 people were injured in the quake local authorities said. More than 1,000 houses were damaged in Tingri county, state news agency Xinhua reported, leaving many homeless in the already isolated and underdeveloped region during a cold time of year.

The tremors were felt as far as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, CNN reported. “It was very strong. People came running out of their houses. You could see the wires from poles shaken loose,” said Bishal Nath Upreti from the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, a non-government organization in Kathmandu.

Anna Guo, an 18-year-old college student, was heading to Mount Everest when the ground started shaking violently. “People around me began to panic and became noticeably tense,” she told CNN.

“I’ve been planning the trip for a year. But when I finally made it here, I encountered an earthquake. I never thought something like this would happen to me,” she said.

The epicenter was located in Dingri County, near one of Tibet's holiest cities, Shigatse, known for its centuries-old monasteries and the seat of the Panchen Lama. Its epicenter, located in Tingri County high on the Tibetan plateau, is close to the border with Nepal, around 50 miles north of the world’s highest mountain. Tremors were felt across the Himalayas in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan and parts of northern India. The earthquake is being reported as the deadliest in China since December 2023.

With temperatures dipping as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius), rescue workers are desperately searching for survivors. Scenes of destruction, shared on state media and social platforms, highlight the urgency of the rescue efforts. Several aftershocks further complicated the mission, shaking not only Tibet but also neighboring Nepal.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged authorities to put forth maximum effort in searching for and rescuing survivors. He emphasized the importance of minimizing casualties, providing proper accommodations for those affected, and ensuring their safety and warmth amidst the harsh winter conditions.

More than 500 aftershocks have been recorded, 27 of which had magnitudes of 3.0 and above, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Tibet is one of the most restricted and politically sensitive regions in China, and access by foreign visitors is very controlled. Beijing has maintained control over the region since the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an unsuccessful revolt against Chinese governance.

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