Rescue teams are battling freezing conditions in China’s Tibet region, where a powerful earthquake has left at least 126 dead and 188 injured. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck Tingri County on Tuesday morning, close to Mount Everest and near the border with Nepal.
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed rescue workers pulling victims from the rubble of collapsed buildings. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and over 30,000 people have been relocated as temperatures in the area plunge to -11°C (12.2°F).
More than 12,000 rescue personnel, including soldiers and firefighters, are engaged in relief efforts, with supplies such as tents and quilts being sent to assist survivors. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all-out search and rescue efforts to minimise casualties and ensure displaced residents’ safety through the harsh winter.
The earthquake, the most powerful in the region in five years, has drawn international condolences, with leaders like UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron expressing their support.
