A powerful earthquake that struck Tibet on Tuesday has claimed the lives of at least 53 people, according to Chinese state media.
The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale, had its epicenter in Tibet at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua, quoting local authorities, confirmed the death toll and added that at least 62 people were injured. Many homes near the epicenter were destroyed. The earthquake occurred in Dingri County, roughly 400 kilometers west of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, on the northern slopes of Mount Everest.
The tremors were strongly felt in surrounding areas. The Chinese military has dispatched drones to monitor the situation, and rescue operations are ongoing. Efforts to evacuate residents are also in progress to mitigate the risk of aftershocks.
The China Earthquake Monitoring Center (CENC) recorded a magnitude of 6.8.
Tibet, along with southwestern China, Nepal, and northern India, is regularly affected by seismic activity due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
