The tremor, which occurred at 9:05am local time, was followed by multiple aftershocks and felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) pinpointed the epicenter high in the Tibetan plateau, close to the Himalayan border with Nepal. The region is known for its sparse population, but small villages are nestled within the challenging Himalayan valleys.

In addition to the fatalities, Xinhua news agency reported that 38 people sustained injuries, and more than 1,000 houses were damaged in Tingri County, the epicenter of the quake. Footage geolocated by CNN showed significant destruction in Lhatse County, approximately 86 kilometers (53 miles) from the epicenter, with damaged roofs, shop fronts, and debris littering the streets. Vehicles parked along the road were also affected.

Shigatse, the nearest major city, is located about 180 kilometers (111 miles) from the epicenter. This holy city is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

Surveillance footage from a supermarket in Shigatse captured the chaotic moment of the quake, showing customers fleeing as goods toppled from shelves.

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“We felt a very strong earthquake. So far we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss,” chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal, Anoj Raj Ghimire said, at the foot of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain.

“We have mobilised police and other security forces as well as locals to collect information about the damage,” he added.

The earthquake also shook Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, as well as the northern Indian state of Bihar, which borders Nepal. Indian officials reported no damage or property loss so far.

Rescue efforts are currently underway, with teams including the Chinese Air Force deployed to assist in search and recovery operations, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

The southwestern regions of China, Nepal, and northern India are prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.