An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck Tibet, the Chinese seismological center reported. According to local media, at least 36 people were killed and many others were injured. The tremors were also felt in neighboring countries – Nepal and India.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was stronger, with a magnitude of 7.1. The epicenter of the tremors that occurred at 9.05 local time (2.05 in Poland), was located in Tingri district, approximately 150 km southwest of the city of Xigaze (Shigatse), sacred to Tibetans, at a depth of 10 km.
The Chinese Xinhua agency reported the death of nine people – in the next report it indicated that 32 people were dead and 38 were injured. In turn, the local newspaper Nanfang Daily reported that the number of victims was at least 36 people.
According to the media, this area is sparsely populated – approximately 7,000 people live within a radius of 20 km from the epicenter.
Strong earthquake in TibetUSGS/PAP/EPA
Earthquake felt in neighboring countries
Strong tremors were also felt in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, 200 km away, and the Indian state of Bihar.
Earthquakes are common in this region, which lies on a major geological fault where the Indian tectonic plate pushes into the Eurasian plate to form the Himalayan range.
In 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal and left millions homeless.
Main photo source: USGS/PAP/EPA