Tingri, Tibet Hit by Earthquake; At Least 95 Fatalities Reported
(UPDATED)
DHARAMSALA, Jan 7: An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck Tingri(Chinese: Dingri) County in Shigatse City in the traditional Tibetan province of U-Tsang earlier this morning, killing 95 people and injuring 130 others, according to reports from Chinese state-run media.
“Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 130 others injured” after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Tingri County at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), Chinese state-run Xinhua reported, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The epicentre was recorded at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude, and the quake struck at a depth of 10 km, the report added.
China’s state-run broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), reported that “Tingri county and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicentre collapsed,” while the tremors of the massive earthquake were reportedly felt in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu as well as in the northern Indian state of Bihar, which borders Nepal.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake is considered strong and has caused significant destruction and loss of life. The US Geological Survey reported it as 7.1.Additionally, multiple aftershocks were reported to have hit Tingri, with the largest measuring a magnitude of 4.4.
The high seismicity in the Himalayan region, considered to be an earthquake-prone area, results mostly from the continental collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
