A powerful magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, posing significant challenges for rescue operations in the high-altitude region.
The quake, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, centered in Tsogo Township, affecting 27 villages and approximately 6,900 people within a 20-kilometer radius.
Dingri County, located on the northern slope of the Himalayas and bordering Nepal to the south, sits at an average altitude of 4,500 meters. The area is near the northern base camp of Mount Qomolangma, the world’s highest peak, and nearly 90 percent of the county’s land falls within the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve.
According to Professor Ma Changqian from the School of Earth Sciences at the China University of Geosciences, the earthquake is closely related to the region’s unique geological structure and active plate tectonics.
Situated in the southern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Dingri County lies within one of the world’s most seismically active zones. This area is part of the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, near the Himalayan orogenic belt. The crust here exceeds 70 kilometers in thickness, making it one of the thickest in the world.
Professor Ma explained that complex tectonic activities within the crust, including fault slipping, folding, and thrust faulting, generate significant stress accumulation, creating conditions for intense seismic activity.
Following the magnitude-6.8 earthquake, aftershocks are likely to occur in the epicenter area and its surroundings over the coming days and weeks. While generally the magnitude of aftershocks decreases over time, due to the high tectonic activity in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, there remains a possibility of aftershocks exceeding magnitude-5, Ma noted.
Challenges in High-Altitude Rescues
The China Earthquake Administration has launched a level-I emergency response and dispatched a work team to the site to assist with local disaster relief efforts. Additionally, the office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management initiated level-II emergency responses on Tuesday.
Professor Ma highlighted several challenges that rescue operations might face in Dingri County’s high-altitude mountainous terrain. The area is characterized by valleys, steep slopes, and rugged landscapes, making it prone to secondary disasters such as landslides and mudslides. These hazards can hinder rescue efforts by blocking access to the epicenter.
The earthquake may have damaged infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, disrupting transportation routes and delaying the delivery of relief supplies and personnel. Furthermore, the harsh winter conditions pose additional challenges; nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing, increasing survival risks for the injured and complicating rescue operations.
Unpredictable weather in the region—characterized by snowfall, strong winds, and low visibility—can further delay both aerial and ground-based rescue missions.
Ma emphasized the importance of preventing secondary disasters. He suggested deploying geological experts to assess the stability of mountain slopes and avoid sending rescue personnel into high-risk areas, thereby reducing the risks of landslides and avalanches. Additionally, he recommended strengthening hydrological monitoring to promptly address and mitigate potential barrier lakes.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to reach the affected areas, while authorities monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of both residents and rescue personnel.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
