Strong Earthquake Near Mount Everest Kills at Least 95 in Western China

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A powerful earthquake struck western China near the Tibet-Nepal border on Tuesday, leaving at least 95 people dead, over 130 injured, and hundreds trapped beneath rubble as dozens of aftershocks shook the region. The magnitude 7.1 quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), caused extensive damage in Tibet’s high-altitude Tingri County, near Mount Everest. 

Rescue workers sifted through piles of debris in heavily damaged villages, using ladders and makeshift tools to search for survivors. Videos released by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management showed rescuers pulling people from the wreckage, with some carried out on stretchers amid collapsed buildings. 

More than 1,000 homes were damaged in the sparsely populated region, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported. Streets were strewn with fallen debris and crushed vehicles. The vice mayor of Shigatse city confirmed the injuries, while relief teams deployed over 3,000 rescuers and 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) in disaster relief funding. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged authorities to make all-out efforts to rescue survivors, reduce casualties, and provide shelter for displaced residents. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing visited the quake-hit region to oversee recovery efforts. 

The quake struck in a seismically active zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, an area prone to earthquakes powerful enough to reshape the towering Himalayan mountains. 

Residents of Nepal, about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from the epicenter, also felt the tremors. In Kathmandu, the capital city, people rushed into the streets in panic. However, Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Center reported no immediate injuries or significant damage. 

The quake’s epicenter was about 75 kilometers (50 miles) from Mount Everest. The scenic area on the Chinese side of the mountain was closed after the disaster. The region, largely deserted in winter, sees many residents migrate south to escape the harsh cold. 

This region has experienced 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 over the past century, according to USGS data. The shallow depth of this quake—just 10 kilometers (6 miles)—increased its potential for destruction. 

Tibet, where the epicenter lies, remains a politically sensitive area. Although part of China, many Tibetans remain loyal to their exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. Human rights groups and Western governments frequently criticize Beijing for its treatment of Tibetans, citing crackdowns on dissent despite significant economic investments in the region. 

The earthquake triggered about 50 aftershocks within three hours, further complicating rescue efforts. Thousands of residents have been displaced, struggling to cope with freezing temperatures at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). 

Videos from Kathmandu and surrounding areas showed water spilling from ponds and frightened residents describing the magnitude of the tremors. “It is a big earthquake,” one woman exclaimed in a video, with visible shaking in the background. 

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as rescue operations continue in one of the most remote and challenging terrains in the world. 

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