Over 46,000 people have been displaced following a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Xigaze, located in China’s southern Tibet region, International media reported on Wednesday.
The earthquake, which hit Xigaze in the Xizang Autonomous Region (the local name for Tibet), occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT) on Tuesday, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
The disaster claimed the lives of at least 126 people, while 407 individuals trapped under rubble were rescued.
Approximately 14,000 search and rescue personnel, supported by the People’s Liberation Army with helicopters and drones, continued their efforts on Wednesday to locate survivors.
Authorities have established 187 relocation and resettlement sites, equipped with 3,705 tents, providing shelter for 46,525 people, according to the Global Times.
The city government of Xigaze reported that 3,609 homes had collapsed due to the quake.
The epicenter was identified as Tsogo Township in Dingri County, which includes 27 villages and around 6,900 residents within a 20-km (12.4-mi) radius of the affected area.
The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.1, with tremors felt in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India.
In a separate event, the China Earthquake Networks Center reported a 5.4 magnitude aftershock near Madoi County in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located in Qinghai province, at 3:44 pm (0744 GMT) on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun announced on Wednesday that the first shipment of central disaster relief supplies had reached the affected region.
“All earthquake-damaged roads in Dingri County have been cleared, and power supply has been restored to Dingri and several townships,” Guo stated during a press briefing in Beijing.
Communication networks in the disaster-hit areas have also been restored, he added.
“We are confident the affected communities will overcome this adversity and rebuild their homes,” Guo concluded.
