A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in China’s Tibet region on Tuesday, leaving at least 53 people dead and 62 injured, according to state media.
The earthquake, which occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time near the Nepal border, is the most powerful recorded in the region within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years, the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported. The US Geological Survey measured the tremor at 7.1 magnitude.
Videos broadcast by China’s CCTV revealed widespread devastation, including destroyed homes, collapsed walls, and rubble scattered across affected areas. Many buildings near the epicenter were reported to have suffered significant damage.
“Dingri County and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, resulting in multiple building collapses,” CCTV said.
The regional disaster relief headquarters confirmed the death toll and injuries, with rescue efforts underway to search for survivors in the affected areas.
Earthquakes are common in Tibet due to its location along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. However, Tuesday’s quake was particularly destructive and marks the deadliest in recent years for the region.
Authorities have deployed emergency teams to provide relief, while efforts to assess the full scale of the damage continue.
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