A strong earthquake struck a remote area of Tibet on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 90 individuals.
Gatekeepers News reports that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Tibet, known as the ‘Roof of the World’ for its high peaks, including Mount Everest, is an autonomous region of China situated on the Tibetan Plateau north of the Himalayas.
The quake’s epicentre was near Shigatse, a city of significant cultural importance, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism, as it is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, whose authority is second only to that of the Dalai Lama.
In addition to the fatalities, authorities reported that 130 people have sustained injuries from the earthquake.
This event is particularly notable as it is one of the deadliest earthquakes the region has experienced in recent years, despite the fact that such seismic activity is common due to the area’s position on a major geological fault line.
The USGS described the quake as resulting from normal faulting at a shallow depth, occurring north of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates’ boundary. Footage broadcast by CCTV, China’s state media, displayed scenes of destruction, with numerous houses and buildings collapsed.
Rescue workers have been actively searching through the debris and distributing blankets to those affected.
In response to the disaster, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an extensive search and rescue initiative aimed at minimising casualties and facilitating the resettlement of impacted residents.
