Tibet hit by magnitude 5 earthquake days after deadly glacier collapse wreaked havoc near Nepal border
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday (local time), nearly 10 days after flash floods devastated a town near the Nepal border. There have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties so far.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday (local time), nearly 10 days after flash floods devastated a town near the Nepal border.
According to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 110 km. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the latest tremor.
According to a screenshot shared by the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake occurred on 3 September 2026 at 1:46:38 PM (Indian time).
The location is labelled Tibet, near the Himalayan region. It was reported 128 kilometres northeast of Joshimath in Uttarakhand, India. Joshimath is mentioned as a reference point for locating the earthquake.
The reported coordinates are 31.479 degrees north latitude and 80.370 degrees east longitude. The earthquake started at a depth of 14 kilometres below the ground.
The earthquake comes more than a week after a glacier collapsed near the Tibet-Nepal border, triggering a powerful flow of ice, rocks and water that caused extensive damage across settlements and valleys on both sides. Media reports said the disaster has claimed at least 1,268 lives so far, while more than 4,200 people are still missing.
Rebuilding Nepal
Nepal needs to rebuild around 20,000 houses after devastating floods near its border with China. A glacier collapsed on 26 August, sending ice, rocks and mud through settlements. Authorities estimate 7,500 houses were completely destroyed while others became unsafe for habitation.
Officials plan to rebuild homes in safer locations for families affected by the disaster. At least 1,252 people died in Nepal, and over 4,200 remain missing, according to Reuters. Thousands were displaced. Tibet reported 21 deaths; another 541 people were listed missing.
Over 9,300 Nepali soldiers are supporting rescue operations across several affected districts. They are presently searching for survivors, recovering bodies, clearing roads and providing emergency medical treatment. Nepal also reported 583 missing foreign nationals, including pilgrims and trekkers visiting the region.
Rescuers are now searching hydropower tunnels where at least 900 people are believed to be trapped. Experts from India, South Korea and China are supporting these efforts. Two bodies were recovered from Langtang Khola’s tunnel. Officials promised searches would continue while hope remained.
China sent more tents, blankets, protective medical clothing and satellite communication equipment. It also promised further assistance based on Nepal’s needs.
Following highway reopening, rescuers entered Tibet’s destroyed Gyirong crossing with excavators. Reporting remains limited because foreign journalists face access restrictions, according to Reuters.
About the Authors
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.
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