7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Nepal-Tibet border, atleast 53 killed, shaking China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh

•  Powerful Earthquake in Tibet Kills Dozens, Shakes Nepal and India

• 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Mount Everest, Killing at Least 53
  

• Tibet Earthquake Near Nepal Border Leaves Trail of Destruction

• Himalayan Quake: Death Toll Rises as Rescue Efforts Begin in Tibet

 

Beijing - A devastating magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the northern foothills of the Himalayas near Tingri, Tibet, on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and causing widespread damage. The tremors were felt across the region, shaking buildings in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India.  

The earthquake, which struck at 9:05 a.m. local time, had its epicenter in Tingri County, a rural area known as the gateway to Mount Everest. The China Earthquake Networks Centre reported a depth of 10 kilometers, while the US Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1.  

According to China's state-run Xinhua news agency, at least 53 people were killed and 38 injured in Tibet. The impact was felt throughout the Shigatse region, home to 800,000 people and the seat of the Panchen Lama, a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism.  

Videos circulating on social media showed significant damage in Lhatse, a town near the epicenter, with crumbled storefronts and debris littering the streets.  The earthquake and its aftershocks caused strong shaking in villages throughout the region.  

The tremors extended far beyond Tibet, reaching Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, where residents fled their homes in fear. While no casualties were immediately reported in Nepal, authorities mobilized to assess the damage in Solukhumbu district, located at the foot of Mount Everest.  

The earthquake also jolted Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and the northern Indian state of Bihar.  Officials in India reported no immediate damage or casualties.  

This region is prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.  In 2008, a massive earthquake in China's Sichuan province claimed the lives of nearly 70,000 people.  Nepal experienced a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake in 2015, killing approximately 9,000 people and causing widespread destruction.  

This latest earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the seismic vulnerability of the Himalayan region and the potential for significant devastation when these powerful natural events occur.