Deadly Earthquake Hits Nepal-Tibet Border: 53 Confirmed Dead
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) At least 53 individuals have lost their lives and 62 others have sustained injuries following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the Nepal-Tibet border region early on Tuesday, according to media reports.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that the earthquake took place at 6:35 AM (IST), with its epicenter located at latitude 28.86°N and longitude 87.51°E, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The affected area was identified as Xizang (Tibet Autonomous Region), close to Nepal's border.
The Xinhua news agency noted that the majority of fatalities occurred in the city of Xizang, with numerous injuries and significant structural damage reported.
In Tonglai Village, within Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze (Shigatse), multiple homes have reportedly collapsed, exacerbating the level of destruction.
The quake also generated tremors throughout northern India, impacting regions such as Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Delhi-NCR, which caused panic as residents evacuated their homes. Fortunately, no casualties or damage have been reported in India at this time.
Two aftershocks followed the main quake: a 4.7-magnitude tremor was recorded at 7:02 AM (IST), with its epicenter at latitude 28.60°N and longitude 87.68°E, at a depth of 10 kilometres. Another 4.9-magnitude quake struck at 7:07 AM (IST), with an epicenter at latitude 28.68°N and longitude 87.54°E, at a depth of 30 kilometres.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) identified the earthquake's location as 93 kilometres northeast of Lobuche, situated near the Nepal-Tibet border. Lobuche is located near the Khumbu Glacier, approximately 150 kilometres east of Kathmandu and 8.5 kilometres southwest of Everest Base Camp.
Nepal is positioned in a highly seismically active zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, making it prone to earthquakes. This tectonic activity, which also forms the Himalayan region, frequently leads to seismic events of various magnitudes.
Authorities in Nepal and the affected regions of India are remaining vigilant and closely monitoring the situation. This earthquake has reignited concerns in a region historically known for devastating seismic activity.
