Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Jan 14: Two major aftershocks struck Tibet’s Dingri County on Monday night, further unsettling a region still reeling from last week’s devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake.
The United States Geological Survey reported the aftershocks occurred just minutes apart—a magnitude 4.6 at 8:57 p.m. followed by a stronger 5.1 magnitude shock—with epicentres near Tashizong and Tsogo townships, approximately 9 kilometres from the site of the initial earthquake.
Chinese state media reported no immediate casualties following the two aftershocks, which occurred at a depth of 10 km. However, the VOA Tibetan service, referencing local sources, confirmed that the death toll from the initial earthquake had reached 134 as of January 13.
The disaster has taken a toll on the region’s religious institutions with two Buddhist monastic centres suffering severe damage. A monastery and nunnery located about 15 kilometres east of the epicentre experienced significant structural failures, including collapsed roofs and walls. At Dzongbu monastery, several nuns were trapped beneath the rubble before being rescued and relocated to temporary facilities at a nearby monastery that sustained less damage. Authorities have yet to reveal how many monasteries and nunneries were damaged. According to reports, more than 3,600 houses collapsed during the earthquake.
While some religious sites faced devastating impacts, local officials report that several historic monasteries emerged largely unscathed. The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery—the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama—along with Shalu Monastery and Pelkor Chode showed “no obvious damage.” The historic Sakya Monastery, home to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, reportedly sustained only minor damage.
Experts say that the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity stems from its location atop a major geological fault line where the Indian tectonic plate slides beneath Tibet. This ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates makes Tibet, Nepal, and northern India particularly susceptible to earthquakes. Since last week’s quake, more than 1,200 aftershocks have been reported by Chinese authorities. Additionally experts also argue that China’s rampant damming of rivers in Tibet also contribute to environmental and geological instability leading to a region susceptible to earthquakes and other natural calamities.
