BEIJING —
A 6.8-magnitude struck near one of Tibet’s holiest cities on
Tuesday, killing at least 95 people and injuring 130 others with tremors also
shaking buildings and forcing people to run to the streets in neighbouring
Nepal.
According to regional disaster relief headquarters, the
quake jolted Dingri County in Xigaze in Tibet Autonomous Region in China at
9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time). The US Geological Service, however, put the
quake's magnitude at 7.1.
At least 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others
injured as of 3 p.m. Tuesday (local time), state-run Xinhua news agency
reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out rescue
efforts to carry out relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.
Xi ordered utmost efforts to treat the injured and urged
efforts to prevent secondary disasters, properly resettle affected residents,
and handle the aftermath work effectively.
Following the quake, China Earthquake Administration
launched a level-II emergency service response and sent a work team to the site
to assist with disaster relief efforts.
Xizang Autonomous Region also issued a level-II emergency
response to the quake.
Some 22,000 disaster relief items, including cotton tents,
cotton coats, quilts and folding beds, together with special relief materials
for high-altitude and frigid areas, have been dispatched by central authorities
to the quake-hit area.
Over 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers have also
been dispatched to the ground.
Xigaze also known as Shigaste is close to the border with
India. 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.
The epicentre was located in Tsogo Township of Dingri
County, which has a population of approximately 6,900 people within a 20-km
radius. There are 27 villages within this area.
Official data show Dingri County has a population of over
61,000 people.
The epicentre is located 90 km North-East of Lobutse in the
Khumbu Himalayan range of North-East Nepal. The quake struck at a depth of 10
km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Centre,
state-run Xinhua reported.
In his message, President Xi said it is essential to
strengthen earthquake monitoring and early warning, promptly allocate emergency
rescue supplies, expedite the repair of damaged infrastructure, ensure that the
basic needs of residents are met, and guarantee a safe and warm winter for all.
China refers to Tibet as Xizang, part of the Himalayan
region.
The Tibetan plateau is known to be prone to heavy
earthquakes as it sits right over the place where the tectonic Eurasian and
Indian plates meet, often colliding with huge force.
Shigaste also suffered significant damage in the massive
8.1-magnitude quake that devastated Nepal in 2015. Eighteen people were killed
and 55 injured in the Shigaste region when a massive 8.1-magnitude quake hit
Nepal and the wider Himalayan in 2015.
Meanwhile, in Nepal, the strong earthquake forced people to
run out of their houses. It was felt in Kavrepalanchwok, Sindhupalanchok
Dhading and Solukhumbu districts as well.
Many people came out of their houses due to panic in
Kathmandu. People witnessed buildings, trees and electric wires on the streets
shaking for some time.
However, a Nepal Police spokesperson says that so far they
have not received any information regarding any human causality.
An official at Shankhuwasabha District Administrative Office
said a two-storey building made of stone was damaged in Kimathanka Rural Municipality
of the district due to the earthquake.
As the epicentre lies in Tibet, stronger tremors were felt
by people living in Northern Nepal, Nepal Police spokesperson Bishwo Adhikari
said.
At least half a dozen tremors with magnitude ranging from 4
to 5 were also recorded within a time span of an hour around 7 am, according to
the USGS report.
The tremor was strong enough to terrorise people in Nepal,
who recalled the 2015 great earthquake that killed 9,000 people.
