A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China, at 9:05 AM (01:05 GMT) on Tuesday, leaving at least 95 people dead and 130 others injured, according to Xinhua News Agency .
The earthquake sent shockwaves across neighboring countries, including Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. While no casualties have been reported in Nepal so far, the tremor caused minor damage in the eastern part of the country, reported RSS, citing Shailendra Thapa, Joint Spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF).
“There are initial reports of cracks in some stone and mud houses,” Thapa stated. “We are awaiting detailed information.”
The epicenter of the quake, located in a rural area known as the northern gateway to the Everest region, was at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre, as reported by Reuters.
The Mount Qomolangma scenic area was temporarily closed following the earthquake. Local authorities assured that hotel buildings and surrounding areas remained intact, and tourists and staff were safe, according to a Xinhua report citing the Dingri Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, situated in Dingri, experienced a power outage, though its facilities remained in good condition.
Weather forecasts indicated temperatures in Dingri ranged from minus 18 degrees Celsius to zero, further complicating relief efforts.
In 2024, the Chinese side of Mount Everest recorded 13,764 overseas visitors, mainly from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and France, more than double the number from the previous year, Xinhua reported.
Nepal's National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center initially reported the quake's magnitude as 7.0, with the epicenter in Dinggye County, Xizang, China.
The tremor caused widespread panic among residents in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu Valley and eastern hill districts such as Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, and parts of the Tarai region. Many residents rushed outdoors to ensure their safety.
A resident of Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, told the state-owned news agency RSS that while the tremor lasted a significant amount of time, no damage was reported in the Salleri Bazaar area.
With inputs from Xinhua/RSS
This news has been updated.
