The Death Toll From The TIbet Earthquake Increased To 95 People

Himalayan/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Ankit Patel

JAKARTA - The death toll from a 6.8-scale Richter earthquake at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains, Tibet, increased to 95 people. Hundreds of houses collapsed due to earthquake shocks.

The epicenter of the earthquake was about 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Vibrations also rocked buildings in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan and India.

The US Geological Agency said the earthquake was 7.1. The earthquake occurred at 09.05, Tuesday, January 7 local time.

In addition to the death toll, 130 others were reported injured in the Tibetan region, Chinese state television reported.

Reported by Reuters, the impact of the earthquake was felt throughout the Shigatse region of Tibet, which has a population of 800,000. The region is managed by the city of Shigatse, the traditional seat of Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in the Tibetan Buddhist religion.

Many houses in the city of Shigatse were destroyed to the rubble, according to a video released by the Tibet Fire and Rescue Department. Rescue workers searched through the rubble of the destroyed house and managed to evacuate one injured person.

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who left his homeland in 1959 after being taken over by China, said he was very sad.

"I pray for those who have lost their lives and wish me hope that all those who are injured will recover soon," the Nobel Peace Prize winner said in his message.