PrashantNews
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit Tibet’s south-west areas on Tuesday morning triggering a series of aftershocks in the Himalayan and surrounding regions that left nearly 126 people dead and 188 others injured.
Chinese media put the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.8 and said the tremor jolted Dingri County in Xizang (Tibet) region. The media reports said 126 people were confirmed dead and 188 others injured. Over 1000 houses have also been damaged in the earthquake. The epicenter of the temblor was in Tsogo township of Dingri County administered by the city of Xigaze, the Chinese media said.
US geologists however said a strong earthquake of 7.1 magnitude was felt around 0635 hours in Tibet with a depth of 10 km.
The first earthquake of 4.1 magnitude was reported around the border area of Lobuche in Nepal at 0541 hours.
At around 0635 hours, an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck Tibet that brought big devastation in the area. Immediately after the big temblor, a series of aftershocks rocked Nepal and surrounding areas in India creating panic. Three more tremors of more than 4 magnitude struck Rikaze area in Tibet with the last one around 1837 hours in the evening.
Nepal’s Lobouche area experienced nearly a dozen earthquakes. After the first one at 0541 hours, an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude hit Lobuche at 0643 and another with 5 at around 0654 hours in the same area.
After a brief pause of few minutes, a series of 7 to 8 more earthquakes of 4.8, 4.9, 4.9, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.2 and 4.5 again struck Lobuche. A total of 12 earthquakes hit Lobuche between 0541 and 0915 hours, geologists said.
Several areas in Bihar, West Bengal and Assam in India also felt the earthquakes.
This is the first time in many decades that over a dozen earthquakes were felt in short interval of over three and a half hour, all above 4 magnitude. Significantly, a section of geologists in the past have repeatedly predicted that a big earthquake of more than 8 magnitude may hit Uttarakhand.
The Chinese media said President Xi Jingping has ordered all out rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas. Disaster relief items are being sent to Tibet. The Mount Qomolangma scenic resort was temporarily closed after the tremor.
Eight satellites including the Gaofen series satellites and a land ecosystem carbon monitoring satellite were mobilized by the Chinese authorities to monitor the relief and rescue operation in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, 13 people were injured in Nepal following the tremors in areas adjoining Tibet border.
Unconfirmed reports said nearly 50 tremors were felt in Tibet and Nepal border areas.
Sad news
yes indeed