Second Earthquake Hits Devastated Tibet, Death Toll Rises To 126

New Delhi: Hours after a powerful earthquake jolted Tibet, several aftershocks — including a 4.1 magnitude tremor — further devastated China’s autonomous region which was once the Dalai Lama’s winter home.

The death toll rose to 126, while hundreds were injured.

The second quake struck Tibet’s Xizang region at 5.52 pm (IST), hitting at a depth of 16 kilometres, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

Over 1,000 houses have been damaged by the earthquake, driving residents homeless and exposed to the harsh high-altitude winter cold.

More than 3,000 personnel have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The epicentre of the first quake was located in Tingri County, about 180 km from Shigatse and near the Nepalese border. Tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu, where people rushed out of their homes to the streets.

The earthquake was triggered by a rupture in the Lhasa block, an area under significant tectonic stress. It’s a hotspot for seismic activity due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Tibet has experienced numerous earthquakes in the last few decades, one of the strongest being the 8.6 magnitude quake in 1950.