New Delhi: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Tibet on Tuesday, with 126 people dead and more than 200 people injured, news agency AFP quoted Chinese agency Xinhua. Here’s what we know so far about this tragic event:
- The earthquake centred near the Tibet-Nepal border, struck at 5:52 PM IST with a depth of 16 kilometers.
- The initial jolt was felt strongly across a wide area, including parts of Nepal, causing widespread panic and prompting many to evacuate their homes.
- The quake’s high magnitude and relatively shallow depth significantly amplified its destructive power.
- In Tibet (Xizang), the earthquake caused widespread destruction, with at least 126 confirmed fatalities, and nearly 200 people injured.
- Over 1,000 homes were damaged, leaving streets littered with debris, crushed cars, and collapsed buildings.
- The remote and sparsely populated mountainous region where the earthquake struck made rescue and recovery operations particularly challenging.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping immediately ordered a massive rescue operation, mobilizing more than 3,000 rescuers, and allocating 100 million yuan in disaster relief funds.
- Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to oversee the response effort.
- Rescuers are working tirelessly, often navigating treacherous terrain and precarious rubble to search for survivors.
- Videos show rescuers carefully extracting victims from the debris of collapsed structures.
- The Chinese government has also dispatched over 22,000 relief items, including tents, clothing, and bedding, specifically tailored for high-altitude, frigid conditions.
- Local firefighters and rescue workers are also heavily involved in the operation.
- Tibet is seismically active, experiencing numerous earthquakes annually.
- However, quakes of 7.0 magnitude or higher are less frequent. The impact of this 6.8 magnitude earthquake was felt in Nepal, particularly in the Kavrepalanchwok, Sindhupalanchok, Dhading, and Solukhumbu districts, prompting widespread fear and the evacuation of homes.
- The shaking was significant, affecting buildings, trees, and power lines.
- In the nine hours following the initial earthquake, approximately 150 aftershocks were recorded
- The Mount Everest scenic area on the Chinese side of the border has been closed as a precautionary measure.
- The aftershocks, coupled with the harsh high-altitude conditions, pose significant challenges to rescue teams.
- The region around the epicentre is sparsely populated, but reports indicate that approximately 6,900 people reside in villages within 20 kilometres of the epicentre.
- The Shigatse region of Tibet, home to 800,000 people, also experienced severe shaking and damage.
