The powerful earthquake that struck a remote region of Tibet was triggered by tectonic activity in the Lhasa block.

By Diao Fanchao | CCTV News

Summary of original report with additional coverage added:

On January 7, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet, resulting in significant casualties and damage. As of 19:00, the earthquake had caused 126 deaths, 188 injuries, and the transfer of 28 critically injured individuals to the Municipal People’s Hospital. An estimated 3,609 houses collapsed.

In response, the Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV emergency response to assess seismic damage to water conservancy projects. Following instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the ministry organized teams to investigate potential secondary disasters. Satellite remote sensing images confirmed no dammed lakes had formed in rivers near the epicenter.

The analysis identified one small reservoir within 10 kilometers of the epicenter, one small hydropower station within 10-20 kilometers, and four small reservoirs and four small hydropower stations within 20-50 kilometers. The Tibet Autonomous Region’s Department of Water Resources coordinated with local authorities in Shigatse City, Dingri County, Dingjie County, Sakya County, and Latse County to conduct emergency hydrological monitoring and assess the safety of water conservancy projects. Preliminary investigations found no major dangers. [Read the original Chinese-language summary of this report here].

Home to approximately 62,000 people, the earthquake’s epicenter was in the high-altitude county of Dingri in Shigatse, located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest. Shigatse, regarded as one of Tibet’s holiest cities, is the seat of the Panchen Lama, a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama.

A report by Xinhua provides further detail on the location and type of earthquake Tibet experienced on Jan. 7, linking it to the region’s highly seismic Lhasa block. This area experiences substantial tectonic stress as a result of the continuous collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a phenomenon that has been shaping the Himalayas for the past 60 million years. According to Xinhua:

“After the earthquake, the China Earthquake Networks Center organized experts to study and analyze the event. The epicenter of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Dingri County was located within the Lhasa Block of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The nearest fault to the epicenter is the Dengmocuo Fault, approximately 11 km away. The focal mechanism indicates an extensional rupture.

Since 1950, the Lhasa Block has experienced a total of 21 earthquakes with magnitudes of 6 or above, the largest being the 6.9-magnitude Milin earthquake in Tibet in 2017. Therefore, this earthquake represents another instance of energy release within the Lhasa Block.”

Another report by CCTV notes the Tibet quake had no connection to another one days later: “According to preliminary analysis by experts from the China Earthquake Networks Center, the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet, has no connection with the 5.5-magnitude earthquake in Maduo County, Guoluo Prefecture, Qinghai” that struck on Wednesday. [See: 5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Qinghai].