A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet claims 95 lives, with tremors felt across Bangladesh, Nepal, and India

A powerful earthquake struck Tibet's remote Dingri County near the Nepal border on Tuesday, claiming at least 95 lives and causing widespread destruction, according to state media. The tremor, which the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) measured at a magnitude of 6.8 and the US Geological Survey reported as 7.1, was felt in Nepal's capital Kathmandu and parts of India. Many buildings near the epicenter collapsed, and over 1,000 homes sustained varying degrees of damage, Xinhua News Agency reported.  

Rescue workers were seen navigating rubble-strewn streets, distributing thick blankets to locals to combat freezing temperatures as low as -18°C (0°F). Videos shared by state broadcaster CCTV depicted extensive damage, including shattered walls, debris-littered streets in Lhatse, and surveillance footage of people fleeing violently shaking stores as items fell from shelves.  

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for intensified rescue efforts to minimize casualties and ensure the safety of affected residents during the harsh winter. Relief supplies, including cotton tents and quilts, were dispatched to the high-altitude region, which is home to around 62,000 people near Mount Everest.  

This earthquake is the strongest recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the last five years, CENC noted. Nepal also experienced tremors in areas near Everest, but no injuries or fatalities were reported there.  

The region lies on a significant tectonic fault line, making earthquakes frequent. Nepal faced a catastrophic 7.8-magnitude quake in 2015, which killed nearly 9,000 people. In recent years, China has also endured severe quakes, such as the December 2023 disaster in Gansu province that killed 148 people.  

Tuesday’s quake serves as another stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, prompting emergency measures in affected areas.