A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck the Tibet-Nepal border, resulting in widespread destruction and claiming at least 53 lives in Tibet. Reports from the Chinese state-run news agency, Xinhua, indicate that 62 others were injured. The massive tremor sent shockwaves throughout the region and was also felt in several parts of India, including Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal, leaving residents in a state of fear and uncertainty.
The earthquake struck at precisely 6:35 AM IST (6:05 AM local time), with its epicenter located in the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, near the Nepalese border. The earthquake registered at a depth of 10 kilometers, just north of the town of Dingri, which is part of Xigaze City (Shigatse), one of Tibet’s most populous areas. Xinhua reported that the earthquake struck with a magnitude of 6.8 at 9:05 AM local time, causing devastation across multiple regions in Tibet, and particularly in Dingri County, where entire villages were wiped out.
According to official reports, 53 people have been confirmed dead in Tibet, with 62 more injured as of January 7 afternoon. The devastating effects of the earthquake were particularly severe in Dingri County, where a number of houses collapsed, including in Tonglai Village, located in Changsuo Township of Dingri. Several buildings crumbled to the ground, trapping many under the rubble. Emergency rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas, and efforts to search for survivors are underway.
In addition to the human toll, significant damage was done to infrastructure, with roads and bridges in the region severely impacted. In response, China’s disaster relief teams have been deployed to assist in recovery efforts.
As the ground continued to tremble in the wake of the initial earthquake, the region was hit by a series of aftershocks. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported several aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.0, that occurred in rapid succession. The first aftershock struck at 7:02 AM IST, measuring 4.7 in magnitude, and was followed by another 4.9 magnitude aftershock at 7:07 AM IST.
At 7:13 AM IST, a 5.0 magnitude aftershock rattled the region, further compounding the devastation. According to NCS data, this aftershock occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers, with coordinates 28.60°N latitude and 87.51°E longitude, near the Tibet-Nepal border.
The National Centre for Seismology also reported other aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.7 tremor at 7:02 AM IST, a 4.9 magnitude tremor at 7:07 AM IST, and a magnitude 4.5 tremor at 8:49 AM IST. These subsequent tremors added to the growing sense of panic among residents, particularly in Tibet, where many people were already displaced due to the destruction caused by the main earthquake.
In Nepal, the tremors prompted widespread evacuations, especially in Kathmandu. While no casualties were reported, the people of Nepal experienced intense panic. Many rushed out of their homes, fearing aftershocks and further destruction. Local resident Meera Adhikari recalled the moment the earthquake struck: “I was sleeping when I felt the bed shaking. At first, I thought my child was moving the bed, but then I noticed the windows shaking, and I realised it was an earthquake. I immediately woke up my child, and we ran outside to safety. I’m still shaking from the fear.”
Another resident, Biplov Adhikari, described how the tremors affected him: “I was in the toilet when I felt the door shaking. I quickly realised it was an earthquake and rushed out to join my family in the open space.”
Although no fatalities have been reported in Nepal so far, the government has issued warnings about the possibility of further aftershocks and urged residents to remain vigilant. The capital city of Kathmandu, as well as other areas in Nepal, experienced significant shaking, which left many people fearful and on edge.
In Bharat, the earthquake caused tremors in several states, particularly Bihar, where residents were seen rushing out of their homes and into open spaces as a precaution. The tremors also reached Assam and West Bengal, though no significant damage or casualties have been reported. In Bihar’s Sheohar district, people were rattled by the quake, with many fearing a repeat of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
This earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the seismic activity in the Himalayas, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Nepal, in particular, is known for its vulnerability to earthquakes, given its location in a geologically active region. The region has witnessed several devastating earthquakes in recent decades, including the 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000 others.
Geologists have long warned about the risks posed by the collision of these tectonic plates, which causes frequent seismic activity in the region.
