When the rains wreaked havoc in Nepal in September 2024 and the centralised water supply system broke down, a couple of villages sought refuge in those enduring entities, which the villagers had largely forgotten about: springs.
ICIMOD 伙伴在前线：对 2025 年西藏地震的人道主义响应 - ICIMOD Regional
Hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed as earthquake hits Xizang, China
At 9:05 am on 7 January, a powerful earthquake registering a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale struck Cuoguo Township in Dingri County in the Xizang Autonomous Region of China.
126 people lost their lives. 188 sustained injuries, and thousands of villagers lost their homes.
Rescue operations continue, as emergency responders provide temporary shelters for displaced residents in the quake-stricken regions. With temperatures reaching -17°C, the situation remains urgent. In Cuoguo township, located at the epicentre, and Chamko township, the hardest-hit area, widespread building collapses have forced many residents to flee to open spaces for refuge.
Dingri, which lies on the northern slopes of the Himalayas, borders Nepal to the south, standing at an average elevation of 4,500 metres.
It is home to the northern basecamp of Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,848.86m, and is inhabited by approximately 61,000 people, making it one of the largest border counties in Xizang.
The tremor, with a shallow depth of 10km, was felt far beyond its epicentre: not only across China but also in neighbouring countries including Nepal, Bhutan, northern India, and even parts of Bangladesh.
Quake and quick rescuers race against time on world’s highest plateau
The state response has been swift and large scale. From the very first moments, rescue teams and essential supplies were dispatched by government authorities at all levels. President of China, Xi Jinping, urged all-out efforts to save lives and to minimise casualties, while Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing led a task force on-site to oversee the rescue operations.
Currently, over 12,000 rescue workers – including firefighters, military personnel, police, and specialised teams – are actively involved in the rescue efforts. In addition, the central government has rapidly sent over 22,000 winter relief items, including tents, clothing, and quilts, specially designed for the region’s cold, high-altitude conditions.
The Red Cross Society of China has also launched its own emergency response, delivering more than 4,600 relief items such as tents, blankets, and warm clothing to the disaster area. Meanwhile, efforts to restore communication have been progressing quickly. By the evening of the day of the earthquake, all communication had been fully restored in the three worst-hit townships near the epicentre.
Moreover, the Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre of Xizang has deployed teams to monitor drinking water quality in the affected areas. Several remote-sensing satellites have been deployed to capture images of the earthquake's impact, supporting ongoing rescue efforts from the skies.
All of these actions have taken place within the first 48 hours following the quake.
The view from ICIMOD’s partner on the ground
China Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Observation and Research, located in Zhaxizong township, Dingri County, sits at an elevation of 4,276 metres above sea level (masl). Managed by the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ITP, CAS), one of ICIMOD’s key partners in China, the station carries out atmospheric and environmental monitoring of the region and serves as an essential hub for scientific expeditions to the world’s top.
Situated approximately 30km from the Mount Qomolangma Base Camp, 80km from Dingri County, and 650km from Lhasa, the station lies perilously close to the earthquake’s epicentre and was rocked by strong tremors.
According to the team, at 8:12 am local time, a magnitude 4.5 foreshock rattled the ground, but the main shock struck at 9:05 am, measuring 6.8, causing severe shaking that forced the station’s three team members – Xi Zhenhua (operations manager), Haibing Zheng (driver), and Tsangzhu Tsonam (observer)– to evacuate.
Despite the intensity of the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, all staff remained safe, and the team immediately began assessing the damage.
The station was among the first to deliver aid to Dingri, working closely with local authorities to document and distribute critical relief supplies.
Mount Qomolangma itself was not impacted by the earthquake. According to Ma Weiqiang, the station’s director, there were no signs of icefalls, avalanches, or other significant geological changes.
Another quick action
As ICIMOD’s longstanding partner and China’s first specialised institute dedicated to disaster prevention, mitigation, and post-disaster reconstruction, the Sichuan University – Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (IDMR), responded promptly to the recent earthquake.
The day after the disaster, IDMR quickly assembled an expert team equipped with drones and advanced tools to assess the damage at the epicentre, structural losses, and secondary disaster risks, providing critical scientific support to inform government decision-making.
IDMR’s support team employed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing and geographic information technologies to monitor and analyse ground deformation caused by the earthquake. This work helped identify high-risk zones and provided vital technical support to the teams working on the ground.
Simultaneously, IDMR faculty members developed a local language earthquake preparedness handbook to help affected communities build awareness of disaster risks and improve their self-rescue capabilities.
Leveraging its academic expertise in disaster prevention and mitigation, IDMR swiftly and effectively mobilised, providing professional support to disaster-stricken areas while reaffirming its steadfast commitment to responsibility and proactive action.
Ongoing efforts amidst aftershocks and more quakes
As aftershocks and subsequent earthquakes in the area continued, the immediate priority has been to provide relief to those affected by the earthquake. The disaster has posed significant challenges, particularly in remote, high-altitude areas, necessitating sustained efforts across multiple sectors.
ICIMOD’s long-time partner, particularly the team at Qomolangma Station acted swiftly, supplying relief and supporting local authorities, emphasising the critical role of scientific institutions in disaster response.
This prompts further reflection: how can researchers contribute more in times of crisis? Beyond ensuring their own safety, what more can they do to support recovery and rebuilding?
ICIMOD will continue to support its partners in China, our regional member country, focusing on monitoring, collaborative efforts for long-term recovery, and building resilience for the future.
A special thank you to my ICIMOD colleague, Zhang Qianggong, and Tian Bingwei of Sichuan University for sharing the frontline stories of the Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Observation and Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Sichuan University – Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction(IDMR)
Sources
China Focus: Xizang quake kills 126, all-out rescue effort underway
All-out rescue efforts underway following Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake
Braving cold, quake rescuers race against time on world's highest plateau
Xinhua News | China deploys satellites for Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake rescue efforts
Mt. Qomolangma reports no geological disasters after Xizang quake
646 aftershocks detected after Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake