Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 7: Chinese authorities have revised the number of people affected by January’s devastating earthquake in Tibet, doubling previous estimates to more than 120,000 individuals, according to state media reports released Wednesday.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in Shigatse Prefecture near the Nepal border on January 7 has had a far more extensive impact than initially reported. The revised figures emerged during a ceremony in Gurum Village marking the launch of a major reconstruction effort across eight severely damaged villages.
“The government aims to relocate more than 120,000 displaced residents into new homes by the end of the year,” the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. This represents a significant increase from earlier estimates that placed the number of affected individuals at approximately 60,000.
Despite the substantial upward revision in those affected, the official death toll remains unchanged at 126 since initial reports on January 8.
According to government plans, many villages will be rebuilt at their original locations. However, settlements in seismically active zones or areas vulnerable to landslides and flooding will be relocated to safer sites.
The Chinese government has also disclosed for the first time the extent of damage to educational infrastructure. A Xinhua report released on March 5 revealed that 79 schools sustained damage, with 76 already repaired and reinforced to meet safety standards. The remaining three schools in the worst-affected areas require complete reconstruction, with 1,479 students temporarily relocated to alternative facilities in Shigatse City.
In the earthquake’s aftermath, Tibetans both within and outside the region held candlelight vigils and prayer services for victims. Many also chose to forgo traditional Tibetan New Year celebrations as a mark of respect and mourning.
The Chinese government’s response has faced criticism from some quarters, particularly regarding restrictions on external aid. Reports indicate that authorities barred non-residents Tibetan volunteers from entering affected areas without official permission, while independent journalists attempting to report from the region allegedly faced restrictions.
As reconstruction efforts continue, thousands of affected residents remain in temporary shelters awaiting permanent housing solutions. The government has committed to completing the resettlement process by the end of 2025, though concerns persist about whether all displaced Tibetans will receive adequate support during rebuilding.
One Response
TIBET IS UNDER MILITARY OCCUPATION SINCE 1951! The nation was raped and smothered by communist China! Tibetans have been resisting Chinese occupation since then with demonstrations which is illegal in occupied Tibet. Each time Tibetan’s demonstrate such as those in 1959, 1980s and 1990s, hundreds of Tibetans paid with their lives! They were shot point blank by Chinese gestapos, some knifed to death, and many others rounded up, handcuffed and thrown into trucks like luggages and then beaten mercilessly until they pass out of sheer pain! Treatment is denied to those who are injured! Instead, they beat them! In the 1959, March 10th Tibetan Uprising, 87,000 Tibetan’s were slaughtered by Chinese own admission according to documents seized by Tibetan guerrilla fighters in Mustang! This was the single greatest mass murder of Tibetans by evil communist China! In every successive demonstrations that ensued, over the years, hundreds were killed, maimed, incarcerated and disappeared for good! Since, 2009, more than 67 Tibetans have self- immolated in occupied Tibet and exile! Those who died in the fiery protest were winched away by Chinese gestapos and denied Tibetan funeral rituals! Those who survived are kept in incommunicado without family contact until they die in solitude! There have been countless Tibetan monks and nuns, lay singers and bloggers, , monk writers, Tibetan teachers etc who have been jailed for merely professing the preservation of the Tibetan language, eulogy to the Dalai Lama and singing songs of “holding the flag of Tibet’s independence aloft” or merely having a photo the Dalai Lama in their mobile phones! The Chinese dictator has criminalised self-immolation and the families of the victims are penalised by imprisoning them! TIBET IS THE MOST OPPRESSED AND REPRESSED COUNTRY ON EARTH according Freedom House, a prominent Human Rights Organisation. No one except CCP selected journalists and individuals are allowed to visit occupied Tibet! No UN officials, no western diplomats or international journalists are given access to occupied Tibet! Inside occupied Tibet, Tibetan’s CANNOT TRAVEL FREELY EITHER! Even pilgrimages from Amdo have to get at least three permits from their own locality to visit holy mount Kailash and Lake Mansrover and other areas in the U- Tsang area! Occupied TIBET IS A VAST OPEN PRISON JUST LIKE GAZA UNDER ISRAELI OCCUPATION. Today, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proclaimed that “Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people”! BY THE SAME TOKEN, HE SHOULD ALSO ACCPET THAT TIBET BELONGS TO THE TIBETAN PEOPLE AND NO ONE ELSE! “He also said, Palestinians have the right to decide their own destiny”! “He should also begrudgingly accept that TIBETANS ARE ENTITLED TO DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINY AS WELL”!!! The Chinese leaders have two standards of looking at world conflicts. They have such mesmerising statements on the international stage but denies it to the nations it has conquered through military campaigns! THIS IS COMMUNIST DOUBLE SPEAK! Tibetan resistance against Chinese illegal occupation of Tibet will in all probability increase as the years pass by! Until now, the Dalai Lama has been a restraining factor by talking about compassion and oneness of humanity. There is no doubt this is a lofty philosophy but the reality is NOT ALL TIBETANS ARE DALAI LAMAS! Chinese treatment of Tibetans has created a strong current of anti- Chinese sentiment among many Tibetans in occupied Tibet. In exile, most Tibetans have started to love the CCP and Chinese in general
Owing to the CTA’s policy of cozying up to the CCP to the extent that the present incumbent has shamefully thanked the CCP and parroted “Now, Tibet is part of China” to curry favour from them! Many Tibetans from the US and Switzerland are visiting Tibet and helping the CCP spread propaganda on its behalf! However, the RANGZEN WARRIORS IN EXILE ARE ON THE ASCENDENCY AND THEY ARE LIKELY TO PUSH THRIR AGENDA MORE FORCEFULLY THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE AS THE DALAI LAMA’S influence wanes!