Powerful earthquake in China’s Tibet region leaves 126 dead VIDEO
Baku, January 7, AZERTAC
The death toll due to a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday that struck China's southern Tibet region climbed to 126, Anadolu Agency reports citing state media.
At least 188 others were injured, according to Xinhua news.
It added that rescuers were braving freezing temperatures as they searched through the rubble to look for any survivors.
The earthquake struck the city of Xigaze in the Xizang Autonomous Region, the local name for Tibet, at 9.05 a.m. local time (0105GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Local government officials are reaching out to various townships to assess the impact of the quake, while the Chinese military has dispatched drones to survey the quake’s epicenter.
Videos and images coming out of Tibet show mud-damaged houses due to the quake while rescue personnel were searching for any trapped people.
Separately, the US Geological Survey recorded the magnitude as 7.1.
President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to make "all-out" rescue efforts to search and rescue trapped people.
The People's Liberation Army has readied a disaster relief emergency plan including transport, medical planes, helicopters, and ground forces to assist with relief operations.
The earthquake was also felt in Nepal, Bhutan, and India, and there were no reports of damage.
15:29
The death toll due to a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday that struck China's southern Tibet region climbed to 95, Anadolu Agency reports citing state media.
At least 130 others were injured, according to Xinhua English.
It added that rescuers were braving freezing temperatures as they searched through the rubble to look for any survivors.
The earthquake struck the city of Xigaze in the Xizang Autonomous Region, the local name for Tibet, at 9.05 a.m. local time (0105GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Local government officials are reaching out to various townships to assess the impact of the quake, while the Chinese military has dispatched drones to survey the quake’s epicenter.
Videos and images coming out of Tibet show mud-damaged houses due to the quake while rescue personnel were searching for any trapped people.
Separately, the US Geological Survey recorded the magnitude as 7.1.
President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to make "all-out" rescue efforts to search and rescue trapped people.
The People's Liberation Army has readied a disaster relief emergency plan including transport, medical planes, helicopters, and ground forces to assist with relief operations.
10:15
The Mount Qomolangma scenic area was temporarily closed, and tourists and staff were in safe condition after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the Xizang Autonomous Region of China Tuesday morning, Xinhua reports citing local authorities.
Dingri is home to the base camp of the world's highest peak. Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead and 62 injured during the earthquake, according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.
The hotel buildings and surrounding areas in the scenic area have remained intact, and tourists and staff are safe, according to the Dingri Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, located in Dingri, is experiencing a power outage. However, the facilities have remained in good condition.
Located at the China-Nepal border, Mount Qomolangma reaches an altitude of more than 8,840 meters, with its northern section located in Xizang.
The weather forecast showed that Dingri's temperature ranged from minus 18 degrees Celsius to zero.
The Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma received 13,764 overseas tourists in 2024, more than twice the number recorded in 2023. This is a notable sign of booming international tourism following China's relaxation of its visa policies.
According to the County Bureau of Culture and Tourism, these tourists are mainly from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and France.
Other news in this section
