5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Tibet:Tremors also felt in China and Nepal; 16 people died in earthquake 10 days ago

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet on Sunday at a depth of 9 kilometres below the ground. Tremors measuring 5.7 magnitude were felt in China’s Qinghai region, while Nepal also experienced tremors measuring 4.2 magnitude. Earlier, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet on 15 October, killing 16 people. Earthquakes have caused devastation in Tibet before Tibet is one of the regions in the world most prone to earthquakes. The Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide here. Their movements formed the Himalayan mountain range, but they also cause frequent earthquakes in the region. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Tingri County in Tibet in January 2025. Around 400 people were killed in Tibet, while 13 people died in neighbouring Nepal. Tremors were felt across several parts of South Asia, including northern India. Earlier, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province of China in 2010. At least 2,698 people were killed and around 300 went missing. Why do earthquakes occur repeatedly in Tibet? Earthquake also strikes Nepal’s Baitadi district According to Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, an earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale struck the Dilasaini area of Baitadi district on Sunday afternoon. The area is near the Nepal-India border in Sudurpashchim Province. Tremors were also felt in areas around Baitadi and Darchula districts. There are currently no immediate reports of any loss of life or property caused by the earthquake. Floods also caused devastation in August Floods that struck Nepal on 26 August caused widespread devastation. The floods began near the border with Tibet in China and affected the Bhotekoshi River and surrounding areas. The sudden surge of water caused extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges and power-generation projects. A total of 1,455 people died, while 5,285 people are still missing. Nepal faces a high risk of earthquakes Nepal experiences several earthquakes every year. This is because the country is located in a part of the Himalayas where the tectonic plates beneath the ground remain in constant motion. Several parts of Nepal are considered highly vulnerable to earthquakes. These areas fall in seismic zones 4 and 5, where the risk of earthquakes is higher.