BEIJING/KATHMANDU- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit the Himalayan foothills near a revered Tibetan city on Tuesday, resulting in at least 95 fatalities and destroying hundreds of homes, according to Chinese officials.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the highest peak on the planet. The tremors were also felt in neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, and India.

The China Earthquake Networks Centre reported that the epicenter was in Tingri county, recognized as the northern entryway to the Everest area, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The U.S. Geological Service measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.1, with the quake occurring at 9:05 a.m. (0105 GMT).

At least 95 fatalities and 130 injuries were confirmed on the Tibetan side, as reported by China’s state media. No deaths have been reported from other areas.

The earthquake had widespread effects in the Shigatse region of Tibet, which holds a population of about 800,000. This area is governed by Shigatse city, the traditional residence of the Panchen Lama, a pivotal figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

Footage released by Tibet Fire and Rescue showed numerous homes in Shigatse city turned to rubble. Rescue teams were seen searching through debris, managing to extract one injured survivor.

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader who escaped to India in 1959 following China’s takeover, expressed his sorrow over the tragedy.

“My prayers go out to those who have lost their lives, and I wish for the quick recovery of the injured,” stated the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in a message.

Mount Everest is a well-known spot for climbers, but winter is not favored for climbing and hiking activities in Nepal.

Currently, a single German climber had a permit to ascend Everest, but he had already departed from base camp after failing to reach the summit, reported tourism official Lilathar Awasthi.

Following the earthquake, China has barred tourists from entering the Everest region, as noted by Xinhua news agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed that extensive search and rescue efforts be initiated to reduce casualties and assist displaced individuals.

According to Xinhua, over 1,500 firefighters and rescue personnel have been deployed to the affected regions, accompanied by 22,000 relief items such as tents, warm clothing, quilts, and folding beds.

Shaking and Aftershocks

Villages in Tingri, at elevations averaging 4,000-5,000 meters (13,000-16,000 feet), experienced intense tremors during the quake. More than 150 aftershocks occurred, some reaching magnitudes of up to 4.4.

In videos shared on social media, storefronts in Lhatse were seen badly damaged, with debris littering the streets.

Within a 20-kilometer (12 miles) radius of the epicenter, there are three townships and 27 villages housing around 6,900 residents, with over 1,000 structures reported as damaged, as per Xinhua.

Southwestern China, Nepal, and northern India frequently experience earthquakes due to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Since 1950, the Lhasa block, an area in Tibet, has recorded 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher, with a largest earthquake of 6.9 occurring in Mainling in 2017, according to CCTV.

Mainling is situated in the lower reaches of Tibet’s Yarlung Zangbo River, where plans are underway to construct the world’s largest hydropower dam.

A significant magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit near Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, in 2015, leading to approximately 9,000 deaths and many injuries, marking the worst earthquake in the country’s history. Among those fatalities, at least 18 people died at Mount Everest base camp due to an avalanche triggered by the quake.

On Tuesday, shaking was felt in Kathmandu, roughly 400 km (250 miles) from the earthquake’s epicenter, prompting residents to flee their homes.

“I felt the bed shaking and initially thought it was my child moving it. It wasn’t until I noticed the windows shaking that I realized it was an earthquake,” recounted Kathmandu resident Meera Adhikari. “I’m still trembling with fear and am in shock.”

One individual in Kathmandu was injured after jumping off a roof due to the strong shaking, according to Nepal Police spokesman Bishwa Adhikari.

The tremors also affected Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, and the northern Indian state of Bihar that borders Nepal.

Seismic Activity in Tibet

Tibet experienced a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, one of the strongest in recent years, causing at least 95 fatalities.

The region of Tibet is known for its seismic activity, having recorded over 100 earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 3.0 last year. However, occurrences of earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or greater are infrequent, with only nine recorded since the early 1900s.

The epicenter was identified in Tingri, a rural area near the junction where the Indian tectonic plate hits the Eurasian plate, which results in long fault lines stretching across the Tibetan plateau.

Here are some significant quakes in Tibet over the past decades:

JUNE 1, 2024

Magnitude: 5.9

Epicenter: Nagqu, northern Tibet

This was Tibet’s largest earthquake in 2024, but there were no reports of injuries or property damage due to its remote location.

SEPT. 18, 2011

Magnitude: 6.9

Location: Mainling, eastern Tibet

This marks the most significant earthquake in the Lhasa block since 1950. The Lhasa block, which is defined by fault-lines, is part of southern Tibet. The Mainling earthquake caused over 300 aftershocks, impacted more than 12,000 individuals, and resulted in nearly 3,000 homes being damaged. Three people sustained injuries.

OCT. 6, 2008

Magnitude: 6.6

Location: Damxung, central Tibet

At least 10 fatalities and 34 injuries were reported, with the epicenter located near that of a previous quake from 1951.

NOV. 18, 1951

Magnitude: 8.0

Location: Damxung, central Tibet

This was the second earthquake reaching a magnitude of 8.0 or higher since 1950, creating a ground rupture that extended for 81 kilometers (50 miles).

AUG. 15, 1950

Magnitude: 8.6

Location: Medog, eastern Tibet

This earthquake is among the most powerful recorded worldwide in the 20th century. It resulted in massive destruction, affecting thousands of homes, temples, and mosques, leading to over 3,000 fatalities in Tibet, along with more than 1,000 in Assam, India. The hardest-hit regions experienced significant geological changes, with mountains shifting, landscapes altered, and certain peaks collapsing, which blocked the Yarlung Zangbo River and caused landslides that buried villages.