A devastating earthquake struck a remote area of Tibet on Tuesday morning, claiming the lives of at least 53 people, as reported by Chinese state media.
The tremors were felt in neighbouring Nepal and parts of northern India.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the 7.1-magnitude quake occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time and was followed by multiple aftershocks.
Both the USGS and the China Earthquake Networks Center confirmed that the epicenter was located in the Tibetan plateau, near the Himalayan border with Nepal.
The earthquake left 62 people injured and damaged over 1,000 homes in Tingri county, which lies near the epicenter.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported the damage. Videos circulating on Chinese social media, which were geolocated by CNN, showed roofs, shop fronts, and debris littering the streets of Lhatse county, around 86 kilometers (53 miles) from the epicenter.
Some cars and motorcycles parked along roads were also damaged in the footage.
The affected region is sparsely populated, though small villages are nestled in the challenging Himalayan valleys.
An estimated 6,900 people live in 27 villages within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the epicenter, as reported by Xinhua.
The nearest major city is Shigatse, which lies 180 kilometers (111 miles) away. This city is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, after the Dalai Lama.
Surveillance footage from a supermarket in Shigatse, shared by Xinhua, showed customers running outside as goods fell from shaking shelves.
Rescue efforts have been launched, with teams including the Chinese air force working to locate survivors, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
By noon, three villages had lost phone signals.
As of noon Monday, 49 aftershocks had been recorded, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
In response to the devastation, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to search for survivors, minimize casualties, and provide adequate shelter and warmth for those affected, especially during the winter.
