6.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Tibet region near Nepal, at least 126 reported dead

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake killed 126 people and injured many others in Tibet on Tuesday morning. The earthquake hit Dingri County in Xigaze City at 9:05 a.m., according to Xinhua news agency, as reported by AP. The US Geological Service, however, put the quake's magnitude at 7.1.

The earthquake's epicenter was located at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers, as reported by the China Earthquake Networks Centre.

According to reports by various news agencies, the epicentre was located in Tsogo Township of Dingri County, which has a population of approximately 6,900 people within a 20-km radius. There are 27 villages within this area.


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Magnitude and Location of the Earthquake

The earthquake occurred in Tibet, a region known for its mountainous terrain and high altitudes. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake registered at a magnitude of 7.1. However, China’s earthquake monitoring agency recorded the magnitude at 6.8. The epicentre was located at an altitude of 4,200 metres (13,800 feet) above sea level, in an area near the border with Nepal.

The seismic activity was not confined to Nepal. Strong tremors were reported across Delhi-NCR and several parts of North India, including Bihar. Many residents in these areas felt the ground shaking and rushed outdoors for safety. Local authorities have since issued precautionary advisories.

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Emergency response teams in Nepal and India are on high alert to assess the impact of the earthquake. Officials are closely monitoring the situation and have urged citizens to remain calm and prepared for possible aftershocks.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that several communities were affected, especially those within a 5-kilometre radius of the epicentre. The earthquake struck around 380 kilometres from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Rescue and relief operations are complicated by the region's challenging geography, which includes steep mountainous terrain and high altitudes.

Details about the casualties and the extent of the damage are still being gathered. Rescue efforts are underway, though the situation remains difficult due to the remoteness of the affected area.

This follows a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan on Monday at 12:47 pm IST, as reported by the National Centre of Seismology (NCS). The epicenter was located at Latitude 36.55 N and Longitude 67.86 E, with a depth of 120 kilometers.

Experts say Nepal's location in a seismically active zone makes earthquakes unavoidable. A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing approximately 9,000 people and damaging around 1 million structures.

“The last time Nepal felt such a strong earthquake was on April 25, 2015, when a 7.8 magnitude quake killed some 9,000 people, the worst in Nepal's history, and damaged about 1 million structures. The previous deadliest earthquake that struck the region was in 1934 with over 8,000 fatalities.”