In Tibet, earthquake survivors face extremely cold weather conditions

Rescuers working in subzero conditions and strengthening winds searched through rubble on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake in Tibet toppled thousands of homes in a remote area near the northern slopes of Mount Everest. Tens of thousands of residents were transferred to safe places while dozens were being treated for their injuries.

Official media reported that at least 126 people were killed and 188 others were injured in the earthquake that occurred Tuesday morning in Dingri County, near one of the most important historical cities in Tibet, western China. The quake was the deadliest in China since December 2023, when 151 people were killed in a 6.2-magnitude quake in the country’s northwestern provinces of Gansu and Qinghai.

Chinese official media said that the region has since recorded 660 aftershocks, some of which exceeded three magnitudes. Survivors and rescue workers were forced to brave freezing temperatures, with the mercury falling to a low of minus 18 degrees Celsius, or 0 Fahrenheit, at night. Recent aerial images near the epicenter showed the frozen surfaces of the lake, and temperatures are expected to remain low over the next three days, which may narrow the window for rescuing survivors.

It was difficult to determine the true extent of the damage independently. Tibet is one of the most inaccessible and underdeveloped regions of China. Security has been tight for decades due to tensions between Beijing and Tibetans, many of whom have struggled to preserve their cultural identity and religious traditions in a country dominated by Han Chinese. Foreign journalists are prohibited from traveling independently in the region.

Most relief efforts are focused on staving off the cold. State broadcaster Radio and Television showed video footage of rescue workers setting up tents covered with insulation and supplying them with lighting panels powered by generators, while displaced residents were wrapped in blankets on beds and chairs.

Zhang Guoqing, Vice Premier of the State Council, visited hospitals and tent camps on Monday night. He instructed rescue teams to focus on finding the remaining survivors, providing medical care to the elderly, and ensuring that the displaced have enough food and warmth to survive the harsh winter.

Rescuers pulled more than 400 survivors from under the rubble overnight. More than 30,000 people were transferred to safe areas.

Chinese state media reported that road obstacles had been removed, and electricity had been restored in most surrounding towns and villages. State Radio and Television showed footage of soldiers digging through the rubble with their hands, gloves and shovels.

You are mine He contributed to the research in Beijing.