Rescuers working in sub-zero conditions and gusty winds searched for debris Wednesday after a powerful earthquake in Tibet toppled thousands of houses in a remote area near the northern foothills of Mount Everest. Tens of thousands of civilians were being evacuated to safety while dozens were being treated for injuries.
At least 126 people were killed and 188 injured in the earthquake, which struck on Tuesday morning in Dingri County, near one of the historic cities of Tibet, in western China, state media reported. The earthquake was China’s worst since December 2023, when 151 people died in a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in the northwestern provinces of Gansu and Qinghai.
The area has since recorded 660 earthquakes, some exceeding 3.0 magnitude, Chinese state media said. Survivors and rescuers had to endure freezing temperatures, as the mercury dropped below 18 degrees Celsius or 0 Fahrenheit at night. Recent aerial images near the site of the outbreak have shown frozen areas of lakes, and temperatures are expected to remain low for the next three days, potentially extending the window for rescuing survivors.
The true extent of the damage was difficult to determine independently. Tibet is one of the most inaccessible and underdeveloped areas of China. Security has been tightened for decades due to tensions between Beijing and Tibetans, many of whom have struggled to maintain their cultural and religious identity in a country ruled by Han Chinese. Foreign journalists are banned from traveling independently in the region.
A major relief effort is focused on preventing colds. The state broadcaster showed video of rescuers setting up tents covered with insulated sheets and tearing them apart with generator-powered light panels while displaced residents covered them with blankets wrapped around beds and chairs.
Zhang Guoqing, vice premier, visited hospitals and tent camps on Monday night. He ordered rescue teams to focus on finding survivors, bringing medical aid to the weak, and ensuring that the displaced have enough food and warmth to survive the cold winter.
Rescuers pulled more than 400 survivors from the rubble overnight. More than 30,000 people have been evacuated to a safe place.
Chinese state media reported that roadblocks had been lifted, and electricity had been restored in many cities and surrounding villages. The state broadcaster showed pictures of soldiers digging through the rubble with their hands and shovels.
It’s You did research in Beijing.
Source link
