Xizang, Tibet: A devastating earthquake struck Tibet’s Xizang region, near the Nepal border, on the morning of January 7, claiming at least 126 lives and injuring 188 others. The powerful 7.1-magnitude quake hit at 6:35 AM, with its epicenter located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, approximately 10 kilometers deep.
The worst-hit area appears to be Xizang city, where the fatalities were concentrated, along with significant damage to infrastructure. In Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri, numerous homes collapsed, leaving many people trapped. The tremors were so intense that they caused damage and triggered panic throughout the region.
Following the initial shock, two aftershocks were recorded, with magnitudes between 4.7 and 5.0 on the Richter scale. Despite the severity of the earthquake, no casualties or property damage have been reported in northern India, though tremors were felt in parts of Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
Xinhua reported that the affected region includes 27 villages with around 6,900 residents within a 20-km radius of the epicenter. Over 3,400 rescue workers and more than 340 medical personnel have been deployed to the area to assist with recovery efforts.
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities work to reach the most affected regions. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the quake’s details, with the epicenter located at coordinates 28.86 N and 87.51 E, near the Nepal-Tibet border. Tremors were also reported in Nepal and parts of Bangladesh.
