An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 has killed 32 people after striking Tibet near the Nepalese border today, news agency AFP reported.
Tremors were felt in several parts of India, including Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) recorded the earthquake at 6:35 a.m. Data from the NCS shows that two more quakes followed shortly after the initial one.
Nepal lies in a geologically active region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, forming the Himalayas and making earthquakes a frequent occurrence.
In 2015, nearly 9,000 people were killed, and more than 22,000 injured, when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, destroying over 500,000 houses.
Today’s second earthquake, of magnitude 4.7, was recorded at 7:02 a.m. at a depth of 10 km, followed by a third, of magnitude 4.9, at 7:07 a.m. at a depth of 30 km.
In Bihar, several residents were seen outside their homes and apartments. So far, no damage to property has been reported.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, has urged citizens to remain alert and prioritise safety in the aftermath of the quake.
“Recently, Nepal has been experiencing earthquakes of varying scales. Everyone must stay vigilant and adopt safety measures,” he said.
