This morning, around 9:05 a.m. local time, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the Xizang Autonomous Region in China, resulting in damage to surrounding areas. The earthquake’s epicenter originated near Lobuche, Nepal, with tremors also felt in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. While the region is prone to seismic activity due to its location on a major fault line, today’s earthquake is one of the deadliest in recent history for the area.
Two 5.1 and 5.0 aftershocks have been reported, with more anticipated. Initial reports confirm at least 126 fatalities and 188 injured from communities in the affected areas. Rescue efforts are underway, with the death toll expected to rise. Reports of structural damage and collapse have been raised in various localities, especially in Dingri County, and many additional areas are without power.