A magnitude 7.1 earthquake, followed by multiple strong 5.0 magnitude aftershocks, was recorded on the morning of Jan. 7 in Tibet, near the border with Nepal. At least nine people were killed, Chinese state media have reported.
Earthquake Details
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the quake had a depth of around 10 kilometers and occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time. The China Earthquake Networks Center recorded the quake as a magnitude 6.8.
Geological Significance
The area is prone to earthquakes, being on the fault line marking the collision zone of the Eurasia and Indian plates marked by the Himalayas. There have been 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday’s quake hit over the past century, the USGS said.
In 2015, two earthquakes greater than magnitude 7 hit nearby Nepal, killing around 8,600 people and causing widespread damage.
