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China earthquake: Scores dead as tremor strikes Tibet | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The region, which lies on a major fault line, is home to frequent seismic activity | The region, which lies on a major fault line, is home to frequent seismic activity |
At least 53 people have been confirmed dead and 62 are injured after a major earthquake struck China's mountainous Tibet region on Tuesday morning, Chinese state media reported. | |
The earthquake that hit Tibet's holy Shigatse city around 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) had a magnitude of 7.1 and a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), according to data from the US Geological Survey, which also showed a series of aftershocks in the area. | The earthquake that hit Tibet's holy Shigatse city around 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) had a magnitude of 7.1 and a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), according to data from the US Geological Survey, which also showed a series of aftershocks in the area. |
Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Nepal and parts of India. | Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Nepal and parts of India. |
Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on a major geological fault line. | Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on a major geological fault line. |
Shigatse is considered one of the holiest cities of Tibet. It is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a key figure of Tibetan Buddhism whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama. | Shigatse is considered one of the holiest cities of Tibet. It is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a key figure of Tibetan Buddhism whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama. |
Chinese state media reported the earthquake as having a slightly lesser magnitude of 6.8, causing "obvious" tremors and leading to the damage of over 1,000 houses. | |
Social media posts show collapsing buildings and there have been several strong aftershocks. | Social media posts show collapsing buildings and there have been several strong aftershocks. |
"After a major earthquake, there is always a gradual attenuation process," Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, told CCTV. | "After a major earthquake, there is always a gradual attenuation process," Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, told CCTV. |
While another earthquake of around magnitude 5 may still occur, Jiang said, "the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low". | While another earthquake of around magnitude 5 may still occur, Jiang said, "the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low". |
The Chinese air force has launched rescue efforts and drones to the affected area, which sits at the foot of Mount Everest and where temperatures are well below freezing. | The Chinese air force has launched rescue efforts and drones to the affected area, which sits at the foot of Mount Everest and where temperatures are well below freezing. |
Both power and water in the region have been cut off. | Both power and water in the region have been cut off. |
Chinese president Xi Jinping has also called for all-out search and rescue efforts to minimise casualties and resettle affected residents. | |
While tremors were felt in Nepal, no damage or casualties were reported, a local official in Nepal's Namche region, near Everest, told AFP. | While tremors were felt in Nepal, no damage or casualties were reported, a local official in Nepal's Namche region, near Everest, told AFP. |
Tibet's earthquake bureau told the BBC on Tuesday that they were unable to provide estimates on casualties as they were still verifying the numbers. | Tibet's earthquake bureau told the BBC on Tuesday that they were unable to provide estimates on casualties as they were still verifying the numbers. |
The region, which lies near a major fault line of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is home to frequent seismic activity. In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 20,000. |