A magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred in Western Xizang, China, around 09:05 CST Jan. 7. The epicenter was about 93 km (58 miles) northeast of Lobuche, Nepal. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and severe to strong shaking was probably felt near south-central Xizang Autonomous Region, China, while moderate to light shaking was probably felt throughout the rest of south-central Xizang Autonomous Region in China, eastern Nepal, far western Bhutan, and far northeastern India. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties due to the earthquake; however, significant damage is likely, especially near the epicenter. It could take several hours for authorities to conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Further strong-to-moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days.
Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake’s epicenter.
