Miracle in Motion: Hundreds Saved as Rescue Efforts Press On

Over 14,000 rescue personnel have been dispatched to Tibet to persist in the search for survivors following a powerful earthquake that has claimed at least 126 lives in a secluded area of western China.

According to Chinese state media, more than 400 individuals have been rescued since the earthquake occurred on Tuesday, approximately 50 miles from the base of Mount Everest, damaging thousands of residences.

Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing arrived on Wednesday to supervise the response, which is being hindered by frigid weather dropping to -16C overnight.

Earthquakes frequently occur in this area, situated on a significant tectonic fault line, but Tuesday’s event stands out as one of the deadliest in China in recent times.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck at a depth of 10 km (six miles), was reported by the US Geological Survey, and its tremors were also experienced in Nepal and regions of India that border Tibet.

Internet connectivity is limited in Tibet, which is under tight control from Beijing, and journalists are unable to enter without governmental approval. Thus, much of the information we have regarding the earthquake and its consequences is derived from Chinese state media.

The air force has been mobilized along with the deployment of drones to assist rescue teams, as President Xi Jinping urged comprehensive efforts to reduce casualties and assist affected residents.

State-owned People’s Daily reports that over 30,000 individuals have been displaced in the vicinity. Power and cellular service in Tingri county, close to the epicenter, were restored by Wednesday morning, as indicated by state media.

Officials predict that more than 3,600 edifices have collapsed, which may leave thousands homeless.

Clips shared by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed demolished homes and fallen structures in Tibet’s sacred Shigatse city, with rescuers navigating through rubble and distributing heavy blankets to local residents.

Sangji Dangzhi, who operates a supermarket that was affected by the quake, informed AFP via phone that the devastation of homes had been significant.

“Here the houses are constructed from earth, so when the earthquake struck… many homes fell,” recounted the 34-year-old, noting that ambulances had been transporting individuals to hospitals throughout the day.

A hotel guest in Shigatse revealed to Chinese news platform Fengmian News that he was awoken by a jolt of shaking. He mentioned that he hurriedly grabbed his socks and ran outside onto the street, where he saw helicopters hovering above.

“It felt like the bed was being lifted,” he shared, indicating that he knew it was an earthquake due to recent smaller tremors in Tibet.

Following the quake, there were over 40 aftershocks in the initial hours.

Jiang Haikun, a scholar at the China Earthquake Networks Center, informed CCTV that while an additional earthquake with a magnitude of around 5 might still happen, “the probability of a larger quake is minimal”.

Positioned at the base of Mount Everest, which divides Nepal and China, Tingri county serves as a favored starting point for climbers preparing to scale the Earth’s tallest mountain.

Tourism excursions to Everest in the area have been halted, according to a local tourism representative, who noted that the region has been shut down. Three tourists were relocated to a safe outdoor zone, they mentioned.

The Shigatse area, which is home to 800,000 inhabitants, is traditionally recognized as the residence of the Panchen Lama, an important figure in Tibetan Buddhism whose spiritual influence is second only to the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan Gedhun Choekyi Niyima, recognized as the reincarnated Panchen Lama, was taken by Chinese authorities in 1995 at the age of six. China subsequently appointed its own Panchen Lama.

“I extend my prayers for those who have perished and express my hopes for a quick recovery for all who have been wounded,” stated the current Dalai Lama.

He escaped from Tibet to India in 1959 following China’s annexation of the region and has since been seen as an alternate source of authority for Tibetans who oppose Beijing’s oversight, which includes local media and internet management.

Although significant tremors were experienced in Nepal, no substantial damage or casualties were reported, an official from the National Emergency Operations Centre informed BBC Newsday – merely “minor damages and fractures on houses”.

The tremors on Tuesday morning prompted numerous Kathmandu inhabitants to flee their homes, evoking memories of the catastrophic 2015 earthquake. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck close to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, resulting in almost 9,000 fatalities and injuring more than 20,000 individuals.

“In 2015, when the earthquake struck, I was paralyzed with fear,” Manju Neupane, a shopkeeper in Kathmandu, remarked to BBC Nepali. “Today, the situation wasn’t as terrifying as that. However, I am worried that another major quake could occur and we might be trapped between high-rise structures.”