95 Killed as Earthquake Strikes Chinese Holy City of Shigatse
A powerful earthquake struck Tibet’s sacred city of Shigatse on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 95 people dead and 130 injured. The devastating quake, with a magnitude of 7.1, hit at around 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) and caused widespread damage.
This earthquake, one of the deadliest to hit China in recent years, was followed by several aftershocks. Tremors were felt as far away as Nepal and parts of India.
Shigatse, a city deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, is known as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. The Panchen Lama has been at the center of Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule, with many Tibetans fearing Beijing’s attempt to control the position, as it did with the Dalai Lama’s replacement.
The current Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an uprising against Chinese authority, and many Tibetans worry that Beijing will impose its own Dalai Lama once the current one passes away, as it did with the Panchen Lama.
State broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing flattened buildings and streets covered in debris, as rescue teams distributed blankets to survivors enduring freezing temperatures. In Tingri County, near the epicenter of the quake and a common base for Everest climbers, daytime temperatures were as low as -8°C (17.6°F) and were expected to plunge to -18°C overnight.
The earthquake severely disrupted power and water supplies, leaving many people stranded. Over 1,000 homes were damaged, and Everest sightseeing tours in Tingri were canceled. Local tourism authorities evacuated visitors to safer areas.
A hotel guest in Shigatse described the chaos to Fengmian News: “It felt like even the bed was being lifted. I grabbed my socks and rushed onto the street, where helicopters were already circling above.”
China’s air force has mobilized rescue teams and drones to the region. President Xi Jinping has called for an “all-out” rescue effort to minimize casualties and assist with the resettlement of displaced people.
Jiang Haikun, a researcher from the China Earthquake Networks Center, reassured the public that although aftershocks of up to magnitude 5 could occur, the chances of a larger earthquake were low.
In neighboring Nepal, tremors caused panic among residents in Kathmandu, who fled their homes. Fortunately, no significant damage or casualties were reported. An official from Nepal’s National Emergency Operations Centre informed BBC Newsday that the damages were minor, with only small cracks on buildings.
The tremors revived painful memories of Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 20,000. Shop owner Manju Neupane recalled, “In 2015, I couldn’t even move. Today wasn’t as frightening, but I’m still afraid another major earthquake could trap us between the tall buildings.”
