Search and Rescue Efforts Underway Following Earthquake in Tibet That Claims Over 120 Lives
Chinese officials reported that more than 400 individuals trapped by a powerful earthquake in the Himalayas’ foothills have been rescued, while over 30,000 residents have been evacuated as the search for survivors continued into its second day.
The epicentre of the magnitude 6.8 quake, one of the strongest tremors in the area in recent years, was located in Tingri, roughly 80km north of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. The quake was also felt in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India.
After 24 hours of the quake, survivors trapped under debris have endured freezing temperatures overnight, risking hypothermia and dehydration.
An infographic detailing the location of the 6.8 earthquake
According to Chinese state media, an initial assessment revealed that 3,609 homes were destroyed in the Shigatse region of Tibet, which has a population of 800,000. More than 500 individuals and 106 ambulances have been deployed to assist the injured.
The temperatures in the high-altitude region plummeted to as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius overnight, exacerbating the plight of those left homeless.
By late yesterday, tents, food supplies, electrical generators, and other essentials had arrived at the site, and all damaged roads had been reopened, as reported by CCTV.
Upon arriving in Lhatse, 65 km from the epicentre, tourist Meng Lingkang observed, “the buildings had cracked open.”
“Some of the older homes collapsed, and many brick structures had fissures and cracks,” said the 23-year-old to AFP.
“There were many rescue vehicles arriving one after the other,” he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out search and rescue efforts,” as reported by CCTV.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed that he was “profoundly saddened” by the loss of life in the earthquake.
“The United Nations is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide support if needed,” Mr. Guterres stated.
French President Emmanuel Macron extended offers of assistance to those impacted, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba conveyed their condolences.
Tingri operates under the administration of Shigatse, which is home to the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a significant spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism second only to the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama expressed his sorrow, stating, “I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and wish for a speedy recovery for all the injured.”
Southwestern China, Nepal, and northern India frequently experience earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which together push up the ancient seabed now known as the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.
Damage to houses in the aftermath of the 6.8 earthquake
The entire plateau is seismically active, along with its eastern and northern edges overlapping with the Chinese provinces and regions of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai.
Beijing, managing Tibet as an autonomous region within China, dismisses criticism from rights organizations and exiles who accuse it of violating the cultural and religious rights of the Tibetan people.
As of 8 AM (12 AM Irish time) today, over 500 aftershocks, with magnitudes reaching 4.4, were reported by the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
In the last five years, there have been 29 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3 or higher within a 200km radius of the epicentre of yesterday’s quake, according to the Sichuan provincial earthquake bureau.
The devastating 8.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Chengdu, Sichuan, in 2008 claimed at least 70,000 lives, making it the deadliest quake in China since the Tangshan earthquake of 1976, which resulted in a minimum of 242,000 deaths.
Yesterday’s quake is the most severe since a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in 2023 that resulted in at least 149 fatalities in a remote northwestern region of the country.
