6.8-magnitude earthquake in Tibet kills at least 126 people

Tremors felt in India, Nepal

A massive earthquake struck near one of the holiest cities in southern Tibet on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people and injuring 188, with tremors forcing people to rush out to the streets also in parts of Nepal and India.

China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) said the quake was of 6.8 magnitude while the US Geological Service (USGS) put it at 7.1 magnitude.

The quake jolted Dingri County in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) at 9:05 am (Beijing Time), with the epicentre located in Tsogo township, Dingri County, in the city of Xigaze.

Xigaze is located 90 km northeast of Lobutse in the Khumbu Himalayan range in northeast Nepal, and is the last border town of Tibet not far from the Nepal-Tibet-Indian tri-junction touching Sikkim.

Xigaze, also Shigaste, is the seat of Panchen Lama, the second most influential Buddhist monk after the Dalai Lama. The CENC said the quake struck at a depth of 10 km. Shallow quakes cause maximum damage, and Tuesday's quake highlighted the ecologically fragile nature of the Himalayan region prone for volatile seismic activity.

The quake also rattled Nepal and Damaged buildings. However, there was no loss of life there.

Several places in Bihar too were jolted, but there was no loss of life nor any damage to property.

Footage shown by state-run Chinese TV showed people, including children, being pulled out from the rubble and being carried by stretchers to make shift medical camps.