Over 53 people were killed in Tibet as six earthquakes rocked the region, including one measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. Tremors were felt in India’s northern states, Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, and Bhutan, triggering evacuations and panic.
BY PC Bureau
A series of six earthquakes, including a powerful 7.1 magnitude tremor, struck Tibet on Tuesday morning, leaving over 53 dead and 62 injured, according to reports from Reuters and China’s Xinhua news agency. The quakes, occurring within an hour, caused widespread panic across the region and were felt in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Earthquake this morning at Hotel Everest View. pic.twitter.com/rR9Iletxje
— Everest Today (@EverestToday) January 7, 2025
The initial 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Xizang near the Nepal-Tibet border at 6:35 am, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology. Chinese authorities recorded a magnitude of 6.8 in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. The quake’s epicentre lay along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which drive the uplift of the Himalayan range and have a history of seismic activity.
Impact Across Regions
In India, tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, Bihar, West Bengal, and northeastern states like Assam. Many residents rushed outdoors, fearing aftershocks.
In Nepal, the capital Kathmandu saw people fleeing their homes as buildings shook. Meera Adhikari, a Kathmandu resident, described the terrifying moment: “The bed was shaking, and I thought it was my child moving it. Then the windows started rattling, and I realized it was an earthquake. I grabbed my child and evacuated the house.”
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Locals are in tears following a heavy earthquake in Dingri, Tibet. pic.twitter.com/5hifCDeHUq— Palden Gyal (@Gyal_1959) January 7, 2025
Tibet’s Devastation
In Tibet, the quakes caused significant destruction, particularly in Shigatse city. The region has a history of seismic activity, with 29 earthquakes of magnitudes 3 or higher recorded within 200 km of Shigatse in the past five years, though none matched the intensity of Tuesday’s quake.
Two aftershocks, measuring 4.7 and 4.9, were reported from the same area following the main tremor, exacerbating fears and complicating rescue operations.
As rescue teams work to assess the full extent of the damage, experts warn of the region’s vulnerability due to its location along the tectonic plate boundary. The powerful quakes serve as a stark reminder of the seismic risks in the Himalayan belt.
