A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck Tibet near the Nepalese border early this morning, claiming 53 lives, as reported by Chinese state media Xinhua via AFP. The tremors were felt across parts of India, including Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported the quake occurred at 6:35 am, with its epicenter in Tingri county, located in Shigatse city. Tingri, a hub for tourists visiting Mount Everest, lies approximately 400 km southwest of Tibet’s capital, Lhasa.

Shortly after the first earthquake, the region experienced two more aftershocks. The NCS recorded a 4.7-magnitude quake at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km, followed by another of 4.9 magnitude at 7:07 am at a depth of 30 km. The area sits in a geologically active zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, making such earthquakes common. The 2015 Nepal earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed over half a million homes, remains a grim reminder of the region’s vulnerability.

In India, the tremors were most prominent in Bihar, where residents evacuated their homes as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, no damage to property has been reported so far. The seismic activity serves as a stark reminder of the tectonic volatility in the Himalayan region, which continues to impact lives and communities.