On January 7, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Dingri, Tibet, resulting in at least 126 deaths and injuring 188 individuals. Rescue teams face harsh conditions, with many homes destroyed, and severe cold hampering rescue efforts. President Xi Jinping called for immediate action to save lives and help those affected.
At approximately 9 a.m. on January 7, a severe earthquake registering a magnitude of 6.8 struck Dingri, a rural county located in southern Tibet. The seismic event resulted in the collapse of numerous structures, claiming the lives of at least 126 individuals and injuring 188 others, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency. The tremor affected around 6,900 residents within a 20-kilometer radius of the epicenter, highlighting the disaster’s devastating impact on the local population.
In the aftermath, rescue teams comprising thousands of workers and military personnel commenced operations to search for survivors trapped beneath the debris. Nevertheless, the extreme cold temperatures, fluctuating between -8ºC during the day and -18ºC at night, present grave challenges for the rescuers, particularly at an altitude of 4,200 meters near the Himalayan foothills. Several aftershocks significantly hampered rescue efforts, which took place amidst the ruins of the small white houses typical of the Chinese countryside.
Reports and visuals disseminated through social media and national television illustrated the severe destruction, with homes reduced to mere piles of bricks and stones. Distressing scenes emerged showing rescuers attempting to uncover bodies from the rubble, along with the emotional devastation faced by the local residents. In response to the tragedy, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for urgent search and rescue operations to mitigate further loss of life and to relocate those affected by the calamity.
This earthquake occurred in Dingri County, an area situated near Mount Everest in the southwestern part of China, specifically within the autonomous region of Tibet. The region is known for its extreme altitude and challenging weather conditions, which complicate search and rescue efforts following natural disasters. Earthquakes of substantial magnitude can have catastrophic effects on rural areas, particularly where buildings may not be constructed to withstand such seismic activities, leading to significant loss of life and property damage.
The earthquake in Dingri serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of rural areas to natural disasters, especially in regions such as Tibet, where geographical and climatic factors complicate rescue operations. While immediate responses from emergency services are critical, the broader implications of infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness are essential to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. The global community must pay attention to such events to bolster support for affected regions.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
