At least 53 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck a remote region of Tibet early on Tuesday morning, according to Chinese state media. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 7.1-magnitude quake hit at 9:05 a.m. local time, followed by several aftershocks.
Both the USGS and the China Earthquake Networks Center identified the epicenter as being located high in the Tibetan plateau, near the Himalayan border with Nepal.
In addition to the fatalities, 62 people were injured, and more than 1,000 homes were damaged in Tingri county, where the epicenter was located, as reported by Xinhua.
Videos from Chinese social media, geolocated by CNN, showed collapsed roofs, damaged shop fronts, and debris scattered across streets in Lhatse county, approximately 86 kilometers (53 miles) from the epicenter. Some parked cars and motorcycles were also damaged in the footage. While the area near the epicenter is sparsely populated, several small villages are located in the remote, difficult-to-access valleys of the Himalayas. Approximately 6,900 people live in 27 villages within a 20-km (12-mile) radius of the epicenter, according to Xinhua.
The closest major city to the epicenter is Shigatse, about 180 km (111 miles) away. Shigatse is a significant location in Tibetan Buddhism, serving as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual leader in the religion, after the Dalai Lama.
Surveillance footage from a supermarket in Shigatse, shared by Xinhua, captured the moment the quake hit, showing customers fleeing as goods fell from shaking shelves.
Rescue teams, including the Chinese Air Force, have joined the search efforts, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. By noon, three villages had lost all phone communication, according to the broadcaster.
As of noon on Monday, 49 aftershocks had been recorded, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
In the aftermath, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to make every effort to search for survivors, reduce casualties, assist affected residents, and ensure their safety and warmth during the cold winter months.
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