At least 53 people lost their lives in a powerful 6.8 earthquake that shook the Nepal-China border region on Tuesday, according to the Xinhua news agency.
“Fifty-three people died and 62 others were injured” during the earthquake which struck Dingri canton at 9:05 a.m. (01:05 GMT), Xinhua said, citing the regional disaster and relief center.
The epicenter of the quake was located at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude, at a shallow depth of 10 km, Xinhua added, citing the China Seismic Network Center.
The American Geological Survey (USGS), for its part, reported an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 in the region.
“The tremors were very strongly felt in and around Dingri canton, and many buildings collapsed near the epicenter,” reported Chinese television channel CCTV.
She reported “multiple aftershocks” since Tuesday morning, the largest being magnitude 4.4.
The earthquake was strongly felt as far away as the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, located around 400 kilometers from the epicenter.
Panicked residents ran out of their homes as tremors shook buildings in Kathmandu, Indian media reported.
