A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck a mountainous region in western China near Nepal Tuesday morning, causing tremors felt in Kathmandu, Nepal. Preliminary reports indicate no immediate damage or casualties.
The quake, centered in China's Tibet region at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, registered a magnitude of 6.8 according to China's seismic monitoring agency. The epicenter was located roughly 380 kilometers from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.
The mountainous terrain around the epicenter averages about 4,200 meters in elevation. A handful of communities lie within 5 kilometers of the quake's origin, according to CCTV.
While no immediate damage has been reported in China, the earthquake prompted evacuations in Nepal. Residents in Kathmandu, the capital, were reportedly shaken from their sleep by the tremors. The 2015 Nepal earthquake, a magnitude 7.8, resulted in significant loss of life and infrastructure damage.
This latest tremor underscores the ongoing seismic activity in the region. Further assessment of potential impacts is underway.
