New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS): A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck the Nepal-Tibet border region early Tuesday morning, resulting in at least 95 fatalities and leaving over 130 people injured, according to media reports.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake occurred at 6:35 a.m. (IST), with its epicenter located at latitude 28.86°N and longitude 87.51°E, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The quake hit near Xizang (Tibet Autonomous Region), close to Nepal’s northern border.
Xinhua news agency confirmed that most casualties were concentrated in the city of Xizang, where significant structural damage was also observed. In Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze (Shigatse), several homes were reportedly destroyed.
The tremors were felt across northern India, including Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, and the Delhi-NCR region. Panic ensued as residents rushed out of buildings, though no casualties or damage have been reported in India so far.
Two aftershocks followed the main quake shortly after. The first, a 4.7-magnitude tremor, struck at 7:02 a.m. (IST), with its epicenter at latitude 28.60°N and longitude 87.68°E at a depth of 10 kilometers. Minutes later, at 7:07 a.m. (IST), another 4.9-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 30 kilometers.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s location was approximately 93 kilometers northeast of Lobuche, near the Khumbu Glacier and around 150 kilometers east of Kathmandu, close to Everest Base Camp.
Nepal, situated in a seismically active zone due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, frequently experiences earthquakes. This tectonic activity, responsible for the formation of the Himalayan range, often triggers seismic events of varying magnitudes.
Authorities in Nepal and nearby Indian regions are on high alert and continue to monitor the situation closely. The earthquake has renewed concerns about safety in a region historically prone to destructive seismic activity.
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