A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), just days after a devastating flood disaster hit parts of Nepal and Tibet.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of around 10 km, according to Germany’s GFZ, as reported by Reuters. There were no immediate reports of additional major casualties or damage from Thursday’s earthquake.
The tremor comes about a week after a massive ice, rock and mud avalanche in the Himalayas triggered catastrophic flooding across parts of Nepal and Tibet. The August 26 disaster has already claimed more than 1,200 lives and left thousands of people missing.
According to figures cited by authorities and Chinese state media, at least 1,273 people have died in the disaster, including 1,252 in Nepal and 21 in Tibet. More than 4,700 people are still unaccounted for across the two countries.
The earlier disaster began when a huge section of glacier and underlying rock collapsed in the Himalayas. The avalanche hit the Lhende Khola river system near the Nepal-China border. The debris temporarily blocked the river, creating a natural dam before a large volume of water and sediment rushed downstream.
The resulting floods entered the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, causing widespread destruction in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and other areas. Homes, vehicles, roads and bridges were swept away, while hydropower infrastructure suffered extensive damage.
Initial reports suggested that an earthquake may have triggered the avalanche. However, subsequent analysis by the US Geological Survey indicated that the seismic signal was generated by the massive landslide itself. That event was estimated at around magnitude 5.2 and was separate from Thursday’s earthquake.
Rescue operations remain difficult because several mountain communities have been cut off by damaged roads and bridges. Power and communication networks have also been affected, making it harder for authorities to locate missing people and deliver emergency supplies.
Thousands of people, including foreign tourists, trekkers and pilgrims travelling towards Tibet, remain missing. Indians are among the largest groups of foreign nationals unaccounted for.
Nepal’s army and rescue teams are continuing searches at several hydropower projects where workers are believed to be trapped inside tunnels. Excavators and heavy machinery are being used to remove mud and debris.
With access to remote areas severely restricted, aid agencies are considering helicopters, cargo drones and even traditional porters to transport essential supplies to isolated communities. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts as the region faces another reminder of the fragile and unpredictable conditions in the Himalayas.
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