7-1-2025 (BEIJING) A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale has devastated parts of Tibet’s Dingri County, leaving at least 36 people dead and causing widespread destruction across multiple townships.
The tremor struck at 9:05 am local time, with its epicentre located in Shigatse prefecture at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The impact was particularly severe in the townships of Changsu, Quluo, and Cuoguo, where numerous buildings crumbled under the intense seismic activity.
In a separate but related development, seismologists at the Hong Kong Observatory detected a more powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake approximately 160 kilometres southwest of Shigatse, a finding corroborated by the United States Geological Survey. The tremors from this event were felt as far as Nepal.
The disaster zone, situated at an elevation of roughly 4,259 metres, has experienced more than ten aftershocks, with the most significant registering 4.4 on the Richter scale. These subsequent tremors, centred about 18 kilometres from the main shock, have hampered rescue efforts and caused additional damage to already weakened structures.
“The situation is particularly challenging due to widespread power outages and communication disruptions in both Dingri and Lazhi counties,” said a spokesperson for the local emergency response team, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media.
The Western Theatre Command Air Force has launched emergency protocols, deploying surveillance drones to assess the extent of the damage. Military transport and medical aircraft remain on standby for potential evacuation missions.
Social media platforms have been flooded with firsthand accounts from local residents, many describing the terrifying moments as the earthquake struck. “I was driving when my car started shaking violently,” posted one resident on Weibo. “It felt like being on a boat in rough seas.”
The earthquake’s reach extended well beyond the immediate impact zone, with earthquake warning systems activating on mobile phones as far away as Chengdu and Beijing, highlighting the significant magnitude of the seismic event.
