Over 50 people have lost their lives in a remote region of Tibet after a strong earthquake on Tuesday. Initially, geologists reported a magnitude of between 6.8 and 7.1, which are often later corrected.
The earthquake occurred around 9 am local time (1 am German time) near the Chinese border with Nepal, according to the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua. A total of 53 confirmed deaths and 62 injuries have been reported so far. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered comprehensive rescue measures, it was said. However, the rescue efforts in the remote and often hard-to-reach valleys of the Himalaya may prove challenging.
It is estimated that there are about 18 earthquakes of this magnitude worldwide each year, often resulting in significant damage to buildings.