Over 90 killed as 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Tibet

No fewer than 90 people have been killed after a strong earthquake struck a remote region of Tibet on Tuesday morning.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) pegged the quake’s magnitude at 7.1 with a depth of 10 kilometres.

Tibet, which lies on the lofty Tibetan Plateau on the north of the Himalayas, is an autonomous region of China.

It is nicknamed the ‘Roof of the world’ for its towering peaks, sharing Mount Everest with Nepal.

The tremors of the earthquake that hit Shigatse, Tibet’s holy city, were felt across the Himalayas and parts of northern India.

Shigatse is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a key figure of Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama.

Authorities said 130 persons were injured in the disaster.

Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on a major geological fault line. However, Tuesday’s is one of the deadliest the region has seen in recent years.

The USGS said the quake occurred due to normal faulting at a shallow depth north of the boundary between the Eurasia and Indian plates.

Videos published by CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, showed destroyed houses and collapsed buildings, as rescue workers waded through debris and handed out thick blankets to locals.

Since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, it has kept a tight control over the autonomous region, including its media and internet access.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out search and rescue effort to minimise casualties and resettle affected residents.