Tibet earthquake near Nepal kills at least 53.

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the northern foothills of the Himalayas near one of Tibet’s most sacred cities on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and shaking buildings in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India, according to Chinese authorities.

The earthquake occurred at 9:05 AM local time (8:20 AM PST), with its epicenter located in Tingri, a rural area known as the northern gateway to the Everest region. The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, as reported by the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The U.S. Geological Service measured the quake’s magnitude at 7.1.

On the Tibetan side, at least 53 people were reported dead and 62 others injured, according to China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua.

The region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, is no stranger to earthquakes. In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near Kathmandu, Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and injuring thousands. Among the victims were 18 people who were killed at the Mount Everest base camp during an avalanche.

Tuesday's quake’s epicenter was about 80 km north of Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak and a popular destination for climbers. However, winter is generally an off-season for climbers, with only a single German climber holding a permit to attempt Everest this season. He had already left the base camp after failing to reach the summit, according to Nepal's Department of Tourism official, Lilathar Awasthi.

In Nepal, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that tremors were felt in seven hill districts near Tibet. While no reports of casualties or property damage had been received from the area, officials were mobilizing local authorities, security forces, and police to gather information.

The earthquake was felt across Tibet's Shigatse region, home to 800,000 people. The region, which includes Lhatse, a town near the epicenter, experienced strong shaking and was followed by dozens of aftershocks with magnitudes up to 4.4. Social media footage showed crumbled shop fronts and debris scattered across roads.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for an immediate and thorough search and rescue effort to minimize casualties and assist displaced people, especially with the approaching winter.

Nearby villages in Tingri, a region with a population of around 6,900, reported significant tremors and aftershocks. Authorities are liaising with neighboring towns to assess the damage and check for casualties.

In Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, located approximately 400 km away from the epicenter, residents rushed from their homes in panic. Tremors were also felt in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, and in the Indian state of Bihar, which borders Nepal.

As of now, there have been no reports of significant property damage or casualties in India.