Thousands have moved to shelters in earthquake-hit Tibet as the search for missing people continues

Your support helps us tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is on the ground as the story unfolds. Whether it's investigating the finances of Elon Musk's pro-Trump political action committee or producing our latest documentary The Word, which highlights American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to analyze the facts from the reporter.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to continue sending journalists to talk to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. Unlike many other high-quality news outlets, we choose not to exclude Americans from our reporting and analysis through a paywall. We believe that quality journalism should be available to everyone, and paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes a difference. Read more

More than 45,000 people in earthquake-hit Tibet were moved to shelters as authorities expanded searches to find survivors buried under rubble in a high-altitude environment in the wake of a powerful earthquake.

At least 126 people were killed and more than 188 others injured after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Tingri, a rural district with a population of about 60,000 located about 80 kilometers north of Mount Everest, on Tuesday.

The quake shook buildings as far away as Nepal, parts of India and Bhutan and destroyed more than 3,600 homes around Tingri, presenting a massive task for rescuers in an area with an average elevation of more than 4,000 metres.

Open the image in the gallery

Rescue workers search and rescue survivors (Xinhua)

Experts say those who were trapped under rubble about 48 hours after the quake likely succumbed to hypothermia, with temperatures falling to -18 degrees Celsius at night. Electricity and water are still cut off due to the disaster.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that rescue operations focused on 27 villages within a 20-kilometre radius of Tingri. The area is home to 7,000 people.

“The first round of large-scale search and rescue work has been concluded,” official Hao Tao said at a press conference on Thursday. “After that, we will conduct large-scale search and rescue operations in depth and detail.”

He added that officials are still assessing the extent of the disaster that destroyed four tanks, as well as the extent of the losses.

Mainland China sent 11,000 rescuers to the quake area within hours of the first tremors, which were followed by more than 1,200 aftershocks.

State media reported that about 46,500 people affected by the quake were transferred to 187 resettlement sites in towns surrounding the epicenter. Rescuers began constructing prefabricated homes to replace the tents of the displaced.

Open the image in the gallery

Rescue teams work through the rubble following the earthquake in a location identified as Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region (via Reuters)

According to reports, about 1,000 earthquake-resistant and heated houses will be sent to Tingri and can be built in about 10 minutes. Tents, quilts, stoves and other relief items were delivered to people whose homes were uninhabitable or unsafe.

CCTV broadcast a video showing workers setting up rows of tents with metal frames and stakes to shelter survivors. The tents were lined with padding to resist the cold.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, who visited the survivors, called for accelerating the post-disaster reconstruction process to ensure they are safe and warm this winter.

Condolences poured in from Tibet and Nepal for the dead.

Open the image in the gallery

Tibetans in Nepal pray at a monastery in memory of the victims of Tuesday's earthquake (Reuters)

Tibetans, many of whom fled persecution in China, held vigils for the victims in neighboring India and Nepal, which have large communities.

About 200 Tibetans lit candles and marched along the two main streets in Dharamshala, northern India, chanting prayers and carrying banners saying they stand with the victims and are calling for help to help them.

In the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, about 50 Tibetans chanted prayers at a Buddhist monastery. “We are praying for the souls of many people who lost their lives in Tibet due to the earthquake yesterday,” Riya Tamang, who runs a shop, told the Associated Press.

An announcement on the Dalai Lama's website said he would lead a prayer service in memory of the victims on Thursday in Dharamshala.

“We are very clear about the separatist nature and political designs of the Dalai Lama and remain very vigilant,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun told reporters.

This was the worst earthquake China has witnessed since a 6.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in 2023, killing at least 149 people in a remote area in the northwest of the country.

In 2008, an 8-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Chengdu in Sichuan, killing at least 70,000 people. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 242,000 people.

Additional reports by agencies.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos