A devastating earthquake in China’s Tibet region has claimed at least 53 lives and left many injured, as reported by state media.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the 7.1 magnitude quake struck the mountainous Tibet Autonomous Region near the Nepalese border at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday. Rescue operations are currently underway in the affected areas.
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Several aftershocks were felt, extending into Nepal, where Kathmandu residents evacuated buildings. The closest city to the epicenter, Shigatse, has a population of 640,000.
The Himalayan region, known for its high seismic activity, has experienced catastrophic earthquakes in the past, such as the 2015 Nepal earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people.
Nepalese seismologist Lok Bijaya Adhikari warned of potential damage in the eastern mountains, while Ang Tshering Sherpa, former head of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, highlighted the risks of avalanches and glacial lake floods following earthquakes. Many high-altitude residents in Nepal had migrated to lower regions for winter, though some remain in areas like Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga.
