A devastating earthquake of 7.1 magnitude has hit the mountainous region of Tibet, close to the border with Nepal, claiming at least 53 lives and injuring many others, according to Chinese state media.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the magnitude of the quake, which struck shortly after 9:05 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The epicenter was located near Shigatse, a city with a population of approximately 640,000, exacerbating the impact of the disaster. The China Earthquake Networks Centre reported the event, highlighting the immediate initiation of rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

Several aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, further complicating the situation and extending the seismic activity into neighboring Nepal. In Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, residents evacuated buildings as they felt the significant tremors.

This region, part of the seismically active Himalayan mountain range, has a history of such natural disasters. Notably, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, which was even stronger at 7.8 magnitude, resulted in nearly 9,000 fatalities, underscoring the area's vulnerability to seismic events.

Despite the timing, with many from Nepal's high mountain areas having migrated to lower altitudes for the winter, some residents still remain in high-risk zones like Everest, Makalu, Rolwaling, and Kanchenjunga, potentially increasing the human cost of this tragedy.

Efforts are ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage and to provide aid to those affected by this catastrophic event. International and local agencies are mobilizing resources to support the rescue operations and to offer humanitarian assistance. (ILKHA)