Rescue workers searched through the rubble in sub-zero conditions and harsh winds on Wednesday after a strong earthquake in Tibet destroyed thousands of homes in a remote area near the northern foot of Mount Everest. . Tens of thousands of residents have been moved to safety and dozens are being treated for injuries.
At least 126 people were killed and 188 injured in an earthquake that struck Dingli county in western China, near one of Tibet’s most historic cities, on Tuesday morning, state media reported. The earthquake was the deadliest in China since December 2023, when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck northwestern Gansu and Qinghai provinces, killing 151 people.
According to Chinese state media, 660 aftershocks have since been recorded in the area, some with magnitudes exceeding 3.0. Survivors and rescuers had to endure subzero temperatures as the mercury’s low temperature dropped to -18 degrees Celsius or 0 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. Recent aerial photos near the epicenter show frozen lake surfaces, and temperatures are expected to remain cold for the next three days, potentially limiting the chance to rescue survivors. .
The true scale of the damage was difficult to determine independently. Tibet is one of the most difficult to access and least developed regions in China. Security has been tightened for decades due to tensions between the Chinese government and Tibetans, many of whom have struggled to maintain their cultural identity and religious traditions in the Han-dominated country. . Foreign journalists are prohibited from traveling independently to the area.
Much of the relief efforts are focused on keeping out the cold. State television reported that as evacuees wrapped themselves in blankets and huddled in cots and chairs, rescue workers set up tents covered with insulation layers and equipped with lighting panels powered by generators. A video footage of the situation was shown.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing visited hospitals and tent camps on Monday night. He directed rescue teams to focus on finding remaining survivors, providing medical care to the vulnerable, and ensuring displaced people had enough food and warmth to survive the frigid winter.
Rescue teams pulled more than 400 survivors from the rubble overnight. More than 30,000 people were evacuated to safe locations.
Chinese state media reported that roadblocks had been cleared and power had been restored to most surrounding towns and villages. State television showed footage of soldiers digging through the rubble with gloved hands and shovels.
Li You contributed research in Beijing.
