At least 53 people have died and dozens have been injured after a strong earthquake in China, according to authorities.
It struck in a mountainous area, near the border with Nepal, shortly after 9.05am (1.05am GMT), according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said it was 7.1 magnitude.
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said the epicentre was in the Tingri region, about 240 miles from Tibet’s capital Lhasa and about 14 miles from the region’s second-largest city of Shigatse – also known as Xigaze.
Shigatse is one of Tibet’s holiest cities.
It is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery – the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, who’s second only to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism.
The epicentre was reportedly about 14 miles from Shigatse – also known as Xigaze
Shigatse is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. File pic: AP
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters, said 62 had been injured alongside the 53 people killed.
About 1,500 fire and rescue workers have been deployed to search for people in the rubble, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
According to state media, the initial earthquake was followed by a number of aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.4.
Tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, as well as Bhutan and northern India.
Anoj Raj Ghimire, chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal, said: “We felt a very strong earthquake. So far we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss.”
The earthquake struck in an area where the Indian and Eurasian plates clash, causing uplifts which form the Himalayan mountains.
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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.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed some 9,000 people and damaged about 1 million structures in Nepal in 2015.
