New Delhi: A magnitude earthquake of 7.1 rocked Tibet, killing 95 people and injuring 130. Several aftershocks have been felt since the quake. The earthquake’s epicentre was located in Tingri, Tibet, which is known as the northern gateway to the Everest region. Today’s epicentre was around 80 km north of Mount Everest. According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the tremors were felt in seven hill districts bordering Tibet.
Since 1950, 21 6 or higher magnitude earthquakes have occurred in the Lhasa block. The strongest was a 6.9-magnitude quake in Mainling in 2017. Mainling is located in the lower reaches of Tibet’s Yarlung Zangbo river.
Let us look at the past earthquakes that have hit Tibet and its surrounding region.
Major earthquakes hit Tibet or made an impact in the Tibet region
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
1952 Damxung earthquake
1990 Gonghe earthquake
2008 Damxung earthquake
2015 Nepal earthquake
1950 Assam–Tibet Earthquake
The 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake, also called the Assam earthquake, occurred on August 15 and measured 8.7 in magnitude. Its epicentre was in the Mishmi Hills. This earthquake is one of the strongest ever recorded on land. It struck on a Tuesday at 7:39 pm Indian Standard Time, destroying both Assam (India) and Tibet. Approximately 4,800 people lost their lives. This earthquake is notable because it is the largest recorded quake caused by continental collision, not subduction. It was also known for the loud noises heard across the region.
1952 Damxung Earthquake
The 1952 Damxung earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.5, hit Tibet on the morning of August 18. The epicentre was in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains in Damxung County. Significant damage was done in Damxung and nearby Nagqu County. People felt it in Lhasa, over 100 km away. The earthquake damaged Reting Monastery, leading to 54 deaths at Reting and Tangmu, though the total number of fatalities is unknown. Damxung County experienced another significant earthquake in 2008.
1990 Gonghe Earthquake
The 1990 Gonghe earthquake occurred on April 26 at 5.37 pm China Standard Time in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The main shock measured 7.0 on the surface wave scale and 6.5 in moment magnitude. Two smaller earthquakes preceded it seconds before the main tremor. This earthquake had a Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 126 people died, and 2,049 suffered injuries. It caused landslides and extensive destruction, collapsing 21,000 homes and damaging another 66,800. The nearby Longyangxia Reservoir felt strong shaking, but its power plant and dam remained operational.
2008 Damxung Earthquake
The 2008 Damxung earthquake struck Damxung County, west of Lhasa, China, on October 6 around 4.30 pm China Standard Time. As of October 7, Chinese state media reported 10 fatalities. Three aftershocks above magnitude 5 followed. This earthquake occurred further southwest than the 1952 Damxung earthquake.
2015 Nepal Earthquake
The April 2015 Nepal earthquake, also known as the Gorkha earthquake, killed 8,962 people and injured 21,952 in Nepal, India, China, and Bangladesh. It happened at 11:56 am Nepal Standard Time on April 25, 2015, with a magnitude of 7.8 or 8.1. The epicentre was near Barpak in Gorkha, about 85 km northwest of Kathmandu, at a depth of 8.2 km. This was the worst natural disaster in Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–India earthquake.
In Tibet, 27 people died, 383 were injured, and four were missing. The earthquake destroyed 2,500 houses and damaged 24,700 others across 19 counties, affecting nearly 300,000 people. Among them, 47,500 were displaced, and 82 temples were also damaged. Gyirong, Nyalam, and Tingri counties were the hardest hit, where nearly 80 per cent of houses collapsed.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Tingri, Tibet, resulting in 95 deaths and 130 injuries. Tremors were felt across seven Nepali districts bordering Tibet. This event follows a history of significant seismic activity in the region, including the devastating 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake and the 2015 Nepal earthquake. The article examines this recent quake within the context of Tibet’s seismic history, highlighting past major events and their impact. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
