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President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the Xizang autonomous region on Jan 7
The strong earthquake left 126 people dead and 188 others injured
All tents and makeshift houses inhabited by residents affected by the earthquake were provided with a stable power supply by Saturday afternoon
A memorial service was held on Monday to mourn the victims of the earthquake
LHASA -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri county in Shigatse, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, at 9:05 am Tuesday, with a depth of 10 km.
The epicenter was located in Tsogo township, with approximately 6,900 people living within a 20-km radius. This area includes about 27 villages.
Dingri county lies on the northern slope of the Himalayas, bordering Nepal to the south. With an average altitude of 4,500 meters, it is located near the northern base camp of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak.
Nearly 90 percent of the county's land is part of the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, which draws global attention due to its unique ecological environment.
Dingri is home to the Qomolangma Atmospheric and Environmental Research Station, operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Following the earthquake, the station's facilities are reported to be in good condition.
The county seat is located 243 km from the city of Shigatse. Spanning about 13,860 square km, Dingri county has 13 townships and 180 administrative villages, with a 181-km-long borderline.
With a population of over 60,000, the county is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang.
Dingri county has a plateau temperate semi-arid monsoon climate with an annual average temperature ranging from 2.8 to 3.9 degrees Celsius.
The weather forecast showed that the temperature at Dingri went from minus 18 degrees Celsius to zero on Tuesday.
Following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region at 09:05 am on Tuesday, the Mount Qomolangma (Everest) Scenic Area has been completely closed, Fengmian News reported.
According to public information, Dingri county is a must-pass route to Mount Qomolangma and the closest stopping point for mountain climbers and tourists heading to the world's tallest mountain.
There are two Qomolangma base camps in China, both located in Dingri county, one in the west slope base camp in the Tashigang township and the other in the east slope base camp in the area around Gamagou in Chudeng township.
A staff member at the Mount Qomolangma Scenic Area stated that tourist sightseeing vehicles which planned to visit the Mount Qomolangma area have ceased operations, and the scenic area has been completely closed, as reported by Fengmian News.
It will reopen based on the situation after the aftershocks. He mentioned that the county's power supply has not fully recovered, and specific casualty data is still being compiled, it reported.
Currently, there are three tourists in the Mount Qomolangma Scenic Area who have been safely relocated to open outdoor areas for emergency shelter.
According to a livestream by Xiaoxiang Morning News at around 11:30 am on Tuesday morning, the quake affected surrounding areas felt multiple aftershocks, and with a 4.4 magnitude quake has been strongest aftershock thus far, it said.
As CCTV reported, a strong earthquake was felt in the Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday morning as well.
Rescue and relief efforts are underway to assist those affected by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the Dingri county of Xizang autonomous region on Tuesday morning.
According to China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co Ltd, following the earthquake, a train on the Lhasa-Shigatse section of the railway, the C885, has been halted.
According to the company, the epicenter of the earthquake is about 158 kilometers from the West Shigatse Railway Station of the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway.
After the earthquake, the company quickly initiated an emergency response, unified deployment, organized in an orderly manner, and immediately blocked the railway line from Karu to Shigatse, halting the C885 train at the Jieqiong Station.
At the same time, the departments of infrastructure, signal, power supply, construction and others organized a comprehensive inspection of the railway tracks, bridges, tunnels, culverts, signals, power supply, buildings and other equipment in the relevant sections.
Due to the earthquake, the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway suspended the operation of the C886 passenger train from Shigatse to Lhasa on Tuesday. To meet the travel needs of passengers, an additional C924 passenger train from Shigatse to Lhasa was put into operation not long after.
Meanwhile, the road maintenance department of the Dingri county immediately dispatched all personnel to inspect potential hazards after the earthquake, according to People's Daily.
The region's road system promptly conducted self-inspection actions, with no casualties reported in its nine maintenance sections under the Shigatse highway industry and emergency support center.
There were minor cracks in houses in the Gyalze and Lhaze sections. Currently, all maintenance sections under the Shigatse highway industry and emergency support center have dispatched all personnel to conduct post-earthquake inspections on roads and important structures.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region on Tuesday.
In an instruction made on the disaster, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged efforts to properly resettle the affected people and ensure they are safe and sheltered in the cold winter.
The earthquake took place at 09:05 am on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometers. It was reported to have claimed 53 lives by press time.
LHASA -- Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured as of Tuesday noon, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri county in the city of Shigatse in Xizang autonomous region at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time).
BEIJING -- The Chinese military has sent a drone to survey the epicenter after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Shigatse in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command.
It said the theater command's air force immediately activated a disaster relief emergency plan, adding that a team of transport and medical planes, helicopters and ground forces is on standby to assist with disaster relief.
The Western Theater Command has dispatched staff to the affected area to coordinate rescue efforts.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the People's Armed Police Force Xizang Contingent had deployed over 400 officers and soldiers to the earthquake-stricken area for rescue operations.
Additionally, approximately 2,000 officers and soldiers from the PLA and armed police stationed in Xizang are on standby to provide reinforcements.
A total of 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others injured as of 3 p.m. Tuesday after the earthquake jolted Dingri county in the city of Shigatse.
Update:
Xi urges all-out rescue efforts in quake hit Xizang
53 dead, 62 injured in Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake
Chinese military sends drone to aid quake rescue in Xizang
Xizang experiences largest quake in 5 years
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region at 09:05 am on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, said a report issued by the CENC.
According to the center's rapid report catalog, within 200 km of the epicenter, there have been a total of 29 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or above in the past five years, with the current earthquake being the largest.
There are seven villages located within a 5 km radius around the epicenter, it said.
The epicenter is 34 km from Dinggye county, 36 km from Dingri county, 164 km from Shigatse city and 379 km from the regional capital Lhasa.
House collapses were reported in the affected areas including Dramso, Chulho and Tsogo, and communication and electricity in some areas have been cut off. The region's fire and rescue has launched emergency response, mobilizing 10 rescue teams with 337 personnel, 75 vehicles and four search-and-rescue dogs, CCTV reported.
Tashi Dundrub, head of Dingri county, told Xinhua that local authorities have deployed resources from transportation, water conservation and village administration departments to aid rescue efforts. Evacuations have also been organized to protect residents from potential aftershocks, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Liu Boqian contributed to this story.
