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| China earthquake: Scores dead as tremor strikes Tibet | China earthquake: Scores dead as tremor strikes Tibet |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Over 1,000 buildings have been damaged by the earthquake | |
| At least 53 people have been confirmed dead and 62 are injured after a major earthquake struck the 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. |
| Tingri county, near the earthquake's epicentre, is a popular base for climbers preparing to ascend Mount Everest. | Tingri county, near the earthquake's epicentre, is a popular base for climbers preparing to ascend Mount Everest. |
| Mount Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, have been cancelled, a tourism staff told local media, adding that the sightseeing area has been fully closed. | Mount Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, have been cancelled, a tourism staff told local media, adding that the sightseeing area has been fully closed. |
| There were three visitors in the sightseeing area who have all been moved to an outdoor area for safety, they said. | There were three visitors in the sightseeing area who have all been moved to an outdoor area for safety, they said. |
| 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. There have been several strong aftershocks. | 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. There have been several strong aftershocks. |
| Shigatse is considered one of the holiest cities of Tibet | |
| Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, told CCTV, China's national television broadcaster, that while another earthquake of around magnitude 5 may still occur, "the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low". | |
| Since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, it has kept a tight control over the autonomous region, including its media and internet access. | Since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, it has kept a tight control over the autonomous region, including its media and internet access. |
| Social media posts from the earthquake-affected area on Tuesday showed collapsed buildings. | Social media posts from the earthquake-affected area on Tuesday showed collapsed buildings. |
| A hotel resident in Shigatse told Chinese media outlet Fengmian News that he was jolted awake by a wave of shaking. He said he grabbed his socks and rushed out onto the street, where he saw helicopters circling above. | |
| "It felt like even the bed was being lifted," he said, adding that he immediately knew it was an earthquake because Tibet recently experienced multiple smaller quakes. | |
| Tremors were also felt in Nepal, which has not reported casualties so far | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |