Earthquake Today 2025 Highlights: Death toll in Tibet rises to 126, dozens still trapped; India offers condolences
Earthquake Today Live Updates: At least 126 people in Tibet have been killed, and dozen others are still trapped after a 6.8 magnitude tremor struck Tibet's Tingri county. India expressed its condolences.
Earthquake Today Live Updates: A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck and jolted the city of Xigaze in Tibet Autonomous Region in China on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people, reported AP. Dozens are still trapped, and around 188 people have been injured.
The earthquake's impact was strongly felt across the Shigatse region of Tibet, which is home to 800,000 people. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, Bhutan, and parts of northern India, reported Reuters.
According to Xinhua news agency, China closed the Everest region to tourists following the earthquake. Around 150 aftershocks were recorded in a span of nine hours after the quake struck at 9 am (Beijing time).
India offers condolences
India expressed condolences on the loss of life caused by the devastating earthquake. "Government and people of India express condolences on the tragic loss of life and property caused by the devastating earthquake in the Tibet Autonomous Region," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.
Putin condoles deaths
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the death of 95 people.
"Russia shares the grief of those who have lost relatives and close ones as a result of this natural disaster, and hopes for a speedy recovery," Putin told Chinese president Xi Jinping in a message posted by the Kremlin, reported AFP.
According to regional disaster relief headquarters, the quake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in the Tibet Autonomous Region in China at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time).
Dalai Lama ‘deeply saddened’ by deaths due to Tibet earthquake
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader said he was “deeply saddened,” by the deaths caused due to the earthquake, and extended his “wishes for a swift recovery to all who have been injured," reported AFP.
Several netizens took to X to share videos when the earthquake struck Tibet.
Chinese military deploys drone to assess situation
Chinese military deployed a drone to assess the situation at the epicentre, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command announced.
The theater command's air force immediately activated a disaster relief emergency plan, it said, adding that a team of transport and medical planes, helicopters, and ground forces is on standby to assist with disaster relief, Xinhua reported.
House collapses were also reported in Tonglai Village, located in Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, also known as Shigatse, Xinhua reported. Those left homeless, were in for misery as temperatures dropped to minus 6°C (21°F) on Tuesday, with forecasts predicting a further fall to minus 16°C (3°F) overnight, reported Reuters.
The AP quoted an eyewitness as saying: “it is a big earthquake..all people are shaking."
Videos posted by China's Ministry of Emergency Management showed two people being carried on stretchers by workers treading over the debris from collapsed homes.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said all-out search and rescue efforts should be carried out to minimise casualties and to resettle affected people.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), earthquakes in China are most common on the Tibetan Plateau or its edges. The region where India and Eurasia plates collide, is a seismically active region, which makes it more prone to earthquakes.
Earthquake kills 53 in Tibet
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck China's remote Tibet region on Tuesday morning jumped to at least 53, state media reported.
"Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured as of Tuesday noon, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region at 9:05 am Tuesday," Xinhua news agency said.
Earthquake kills 32 in Tibet
32 people were killed and 38 injured during the 6.8-magnitude earthquake, state-run Xinhua reported.
The epicentre was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Centre, state-run Xinhua reported.
Tremors felt in Nepal
Tremors were also felt in Nepal's capital Kathmandu some 400 km (250 miles) away, where residents ran from their houses.
"We felt a very strong earthquake. So far, we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss," said Anoj Raj Ghimire, chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal, at the foot of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.
"We have mobilised police and other security forces as well as locals to collect information about the damage," he added.
Quake jolts Bhutan
The quake also jolted Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and the northern Indian state of Bihar, which borders Nepal.
No damage in India
So far, no reports of any damage or loss to property have been received, officials in India said.
Southwestern parts of China, Nepal and Northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
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Business NewsNewsEarthquake Today 2025 Highlights: Death toll in Tibet rises to 126, dozens still trapped; India offers condolences
First Published:7 Jan 2025, 10:34 AM IST
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