Over 50 dead as 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Tibet
Photo: Aftermath of the earthquake in Tibet (x.com/SpDineshkumart)
An earthquake magnitude of 7.1 was recorded in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China near the border with Nepal and India. So far, more than 50 people have died due to the natural disaster, the Xinhua news agency reports.
According to media reports, at least 53 people were killed as a result of the earthquake, and more than 60 others were injured. Rescue operations are ongoing at the scene, so the number of victims may rise. Around 1,500 firefighters and rescuers have been deployed to search for people trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake caused severe damage in the region, resulting in significant material losses.
According to seismologists, the earthquake's epicenter was located 181 km north of the Indian city of Darjeeling, approximately 87 km northeast of Mount Everest. The earthquake occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time.
Death toll Update
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) January 7, 2025
53 dead in quake in Tibet region & 100were injured when a powerful #earthquake struck #Tibet region on Tuesday.
#Sismo #deprem #Earthquakes #earthquakeinnepal #TibetEarthquakepic.twitter.com/hBB5AOS2do pic.twitter.com/vnS6vDvuGj
Earthquakes in Tibet
Tibet, located on the Tibetan Plateau, is a seismically active zone due to tectonic processes resulting from the collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. This collision created the Himalayas and has led to regular earthquakes in the region. Earthquakes in Tibet are often of significant magnitude and can cause severe damage to the population and infrastructure, especially in mountainous areas where landslides and rockfalls pose additional dangers.
One of the most powerful earthquakes in the region was the 1950 Tibet and neighboring Assam (India) earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.6. It was one of the strongest earthquakes of the 20th century, resulting in numerous casualties and significant destruction. Subsequently, other strong seismic shocks have been recorded in Tibet, destroying buildings, triggering avalanches, and forcing the local population to seek temporary shelter.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that at the beginning of December, an earthquake with a magnitude of approximately 7.0 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of the United States.
