126 dead, 188 hurt as strong quake strikes Tibet; shakes felt in Kathmandu, sections of North India
Nepal is situated along a significant geological fault where the Indian tectonic plate presses against the Eurasian plate, giving rise to the Himalayas, leading to frequent earthquakes.
On Tuesday morning, a powerful earthquake hit the Tibet area, resulting in at least 126 fatalities and 188 injuries.
The tremor occurred at 9:05 am local time (01:05 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), with the China Earthquake Networks Center reporting a magnitude of 6.8, while the United States Geological Survey recorded it as 7.1.
“By 7:00 pm (1100 GMT) Tuesday, it has been confirmed that 126 individuals lost their lives, and 188 were hurt,” Xinhua stated.
As a result of the quake, vibrations were experienced in Kathmandu, the capital of neighboring Nepal, and in several northern Indian states, especially Bihar, where residents were observed fleeing from their homes. Nonetheless, there have been no reports of property damage.
The Bihar Disaster Management Department noted that tremors were felt in Patna, Madhubani, Sheohar, Munger, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Darbhanga, West Champaran, East Champaran, and various other regions along the India-Nepal border.
Residents of Katihar, Purnea, Sheohar, Darbhanga, and Samastipur also took to the streets during the earthquake's occurrence.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) documented the earthquake at 6:35 am and indicated that two additional quakes struck the area shortly after the initial one.
The second quake, measuring 4.7, occurred at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km, while a third quake recorded at 4.9 took place at 7:07 am, reaching a depth of 30 km.
Central authorities dispatched disaster relief supplies, including tents, quilts, and other essentials suited for high-altitude and cold environments, to the regions affected by the tremor, according to Xinhua.
This high-altitude area in Tibet is home to approximately 62,000 residents and is located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest.
While seismic activity is typical for the area, the quake on Tuesday was noted as the most powerful in the past five years within a 200-kilometre range, as indicated by the CENC.
Nepal is situated along a significant geological fault where the Indian tectonic plate presses against the Eurasian plate, giving rise to the Himalayas, leading to frequent earthquakes.
