Tibet quake: Thousands left homeless as rescue efforts intensify

KATHMANDU: Over 14,000 rescue workers have arrived in Tibet to continue searching for survivors after a powerful earthquake claimed at least 126 lives in a remote region of western China.

Chinese state media reports that more than 400 people have been rescued since the 7.1 magnitude quake struck on Tuesday, about 50 miles from Mount Everest’s base, causing the destruction of thousands of homes.

Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing arrived on Wednesday to oversee the ongoing efforts, which are being hindered by freezing temperatures that dropped to -16°C overnight.

Earthquakes are frequent in the area, which lies on a major geological fault, but Tuesday’s quake is among the deadliest in recent years in China. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the US Geological Survey, and its tremors were felt in Nepal and parts of India, neighboring Tibet.

With restricted internet access in Tibet, which is tightly controlled by Beijing, and reporters requiring government permission to travel there, much of the information regarding the earthquake’s impact has been sourced from Chinese state media.

The air force has been deployed, and drones have been dispatched to assist rescuers. President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to minimize casualties and resettle displaced residents.

State-owned People’s Daily reports that more than 30,000 people have been relocated, and electricity and mobile phone services were restored in Tingri county, near the epicenter, by Wednesday morning.

Officials estimate over 3,600 buildings have collapsed, leaving thousands of people potentially homeless.

Videos shared by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed the devastation in Tibet’s holy Shigatse city, with houses destroyed and rescue workers sifting through rubble while distributing blankets to affected locals.

Sangji Dangzhi, whose supermarket was damaged, told AFP by phone that the destruction of homes had been severe. “Here, houses are made of dirt, so when the earthquake hit, many collapsed,” said the 34-year-old, adding that ambulances had been taking people to the hospital throughout the day.

A hotel resident in Shigatse shared with Chinese media outlet Fengmian News that he was jolted awake by the quake. He rushed outside in his socks and saw helicopters flying overhead. “It felt like the bed itself was being lifted,” he said, noting that the tremors reminded him of previous smaller quakes in Tibet.

There were more than 40 aftershocks in the first few hours following the earthquake.

Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, told CCTV that while a quake of magnitude 5 may still occur, “the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low.”

Tingri county, located at the base of Mount Everest, is a popular spot for climbers preparing to ascend the world’s tallest peak. Everest sightseeing tours have been canceled, and the area has been closed off. According to local media, three visitors were moved to a safe outdoor area.

Shigatse, home to around 800,000 people, is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, a key figure in Tibetan Buddhism second only to the Dalai Lama.

Gedhun Choekyi Niyima, the Panchen Lama identified by Tibetans, was abducted by China in 1995 at the age of six. In his place, China chose its own Panchen Lama.

The Dalai Lama, now in exile in India, offered his prayers for the lives lost and wished a swift recovery for the injured in a statement.

He fled Tibet in 1959 following China’s annexation of the region and has since become an alternative spiritual leader for many Tibetans who oppose Beijing’s control, which extends to local media and internet access.

While strong tremors were also felt in Nepal, no significant damage or casualties have been reported, according to an official from Nepal’s National Emergency Operations Centre. Only “minor damages and cracks on houses” were noted.

In Kathmandu, many residents ran out of their homes as a reminder of the 2015 earthquake, which devastated Nepal.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near the capital killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 20,000.

Manju Neupane, a shop owner in Kathmandu, told BBC Nepali: “In 2015, I couldn’t even move when the earthquake hit. Today, it wasn’t as terrifying, but I’m scared another major quake could strike, trapping us between the tall buildings.”