A powerful earthquake hit the Himalayan region of Tibetin southwest China, this Tuesday at 9:05 a.m. local time. According to the China Earthquake Center (CENC), the recorded magnitude is 6.8, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports a magnitude of 7.1.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located in the canton of Dingri, near the Sino-Nepalese border, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, causing panic among residents.
The provisional toll shows at least 53 dead and 62 injured. Many buildings collapsed near the epicenter, including in the town of Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.
Videos broadcast by Chinese media show homes with gutted walls and collapsed roofs, with numerous stones strewn on the ground. Local authorities deployed more than 1,500 rescue workers to search for survivors and assess the damage.
Southwest China is frequently affected by earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Tuesday’s earthquake was the most powerful recorded within a 200 kilometer radius in the last five years.
Chinese authorities have issued a level three emergency alert and continue to monitor the situation, while smaller aftershocks have been recorded since the main quake.
