Tibet Quake

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet, killing at least 53 people and injuring 62, with many more feared trapped under collapsed buildings, sparking a major rescue operation in the remote and mountainous region.

The earthquake hit at 9:05am local time, with its epicenter in Shigatse's surrounding Tingri county, causing widespread damage and triggering dozens of aftershocks. The tremors were felt as far away as Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, and northern India, with reports of collapsed buildings and homes in the affected areas. The region is prone to seismic activity due to its location on a major geological fault line, and the earthquake's epicenter is near Mount Everest, prompting the cancellation of sightseeing tours in the area.

Rescue efforts are underway, with 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers deployed to search for people in the rubble, and the Chinese air force has deployed drones to the affected area to aid in the search and rescue operations. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties, and rescue teams are working to reach the remote and often hard-to-access Himalayan valleys where small villages are nestled. Over 1,000 buildings have been damaged, and the death toll is expected to rise due to the challenging terrain and limited access to the affected areas.

As the situation continues to unfold, concerns remain for those still trapped under the rubble, and the international community is monitoring the situation closely. The Chinese government's swift response and the deployment of resources to the affected area are crucial in minimizing the impact of the disaster, and the rescue efforts are expected to continue in the coming days, with the hope of finding more survivors and providing aid to those in need.