Tibet has witnessed a massive rescue operation after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tingri County, near the foot of the Himalayas, on Tuesday. The quake, one of the strongest in the region in recent years, has displaced over 45,000 people and destroyed more than 3,600 homes.
The epicenter was located around 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest in Tingri, a rural area with an average elevation of over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). The tremors were felt as far away as Nepal and parts of India. Chinese authorities reported 126 fatalities and 188 injuries, with no changes in the toll as of Thursday.
Rescue teams faced extreme conditions, with nighttime temperatures plunging to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit). Hypothermia posed a significant threat to those trapped under the rubble. By Wednesday, the search for survivors had ended, with 407 individuals rescued. The focus has now shifted to relocating displaced residents and providing medical care for the injured.
Rescue efforts concentrated on 27 villages within a 20-km radius of Tingri, home to about 7,000 people. Approximately 11,000 rescue workers were deployed to the affected areas within hours of the disaster.
Authorities have established 187 resettlement sites, accommodating nearly 46,500 displaced individuals. Prefabricated, earthquake-proof houses, which can be assembled in just 10 minutes, are being delivered to replace temporary tents.
Zhang Guoping, China’s vice premier, emphasized the importance of accelerating reconstruction efforts to ensure the displaced can move into safe and warm homes swiftly.
Gyaltsen Norbu, the Panchen Lama recognized by Beijing, led prayers at Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse with 900 monks and contributed to relief efforts. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, who resides in exile in India, expressed deep sadness and offered prayers for the victims.
The Chinese government, however, dismissed the Dalai Lama's condolences, reiterating its stance against his political influence.
The earthquake resulted from the Indian plate compressing northward into the Eurasian plate, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The force of the quake caused terrain displacement of up to 1.6 meters (5 feet 3 inches) across an 80-km (50-mile) stretch.
The last significant earthquake in the region occurred in November 2017, when a 6.9 magnitude tremor struck Mainling, affecting over 12,000 people and damaging nearly 3,000 houses.
As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, the focus remains on providing relief and rebuilding lives in one of the world's most challenging environments.