Kathmandu: China has temporarily suspended tourist observation activities around Mount Everest from its territory after a powerful earthquake struck Dingri County in Tibet at 6:50 AM on Tuesday. According to Chinese state media Xinhua, the earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, while China’s measurement center reported a magnitude of 6.8.
Dingri County, home to the base camp of Mount Everest (known as Qomolangma in Tibetan), felt the brunt of the tremor. The Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, managed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been closed. Electricity supply in the region has also been disrupted.
Despite the quake’s intensity, the Dingri Culture and Tourism Bureau confirmed that no damage was reported to hotels or surrounding buildings. Tourists and officials in the area were reported safe.
The earthquake has caused significant casualties across China, with 53 people confirmed dead and 62 injured as of the latest updates.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and assess the full extent of the impact.