Xizang earthquake death toll hits 95

A devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning, leaving 95 dead and 130 injured as of 3 p.m., local authorities confirmed.

The earthquake hit at 9:05 a.m. (Beijing Time) with its epicenter in Tsogo Township, Dingri County, and Xigaze City. Within a 20-kilometer radius of the epicenter are 27 villages housing about 6,900 residents. Dingri County, with a total population exceeding 61,000, has been severely affected.

Over 3,400 rescuers and 340 medical workers have been deployed to the disaster-stricken area to provide relief and medical assistance, officials announced at a press conference.

Weather forecasts predict mostly sunny conditions in Dingri for the next three days, with nighttime temperatures dropping to as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius, posing additional challenges for survivors and rescuers.

Source: Xinhua