By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 24: A devastating earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit Matoe [Ch: Maduo] County in Golog Autonomous Prefecture in Tibet on Saturday, according to various exile sources.
At an average altitude of 4,200 meters, Matoe is located at the source region of the Yellow River [Machu] with many rivers and lakes. Local Chinese officials reported that the Tibetan plateau and South-western China were hit during the earthquake witnessed on May 22. It further reported 2 people dead along with at least 22 other injured cases.
According to RFA Tibetan service, at least 8 people had been injured in Matoe County, Golog, which the officials noted as the epicenter of the earthquake. The tremor was felt strongly by residents in the provincial capital city of Xining, which is 385 km away from the county seat of Matoe.
Chinese government mouthpiece Xinhua said that officials believed only “a small number of houses” are damaged. However, RFA reported damaged houses and roads and at least one collapsed bridge in the region, as the epicentre suffered from aftershock following the the initial earthquake. The latest updates from Xinhua revealed that about 72,317 residents in 20,192 households were affected by the quakes in both China and Tibet.
VOT, citing local sources, said that until the next morning, there were many aftershock waves of magnitudes ranging from 4 to 5 on the Richter scale. It also said that almost 192 homes have been severely impacted. A powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake left Sichuan province devastated as it left 87,000 people dead or some missing back in 2008 .
There are Illegal mining in Tibet, causing unpresented Earthquakes in the area. There are environmental crimes of cutting Tibet’s Tress, polluting the rivers, illegal mining. There are corrupt CCP officials grabbing land, moving the nomads to camps. Treating Buddhism as an Enemy of the State, controlling monks. The current actions in Tibet by the CCP is that of an aggressor, occupier, and the tyrant! Not dealing with the most peaceful man of the earth, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With kindness for all, he would be the easiest to talk to! China can prove to be a leader of this world; they first need to respect Human Rights in Tibet and Xinjiang. THIS PLANET IS OUR ONLY HOPE. His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Tibetans in Diaspora are the Voice of the Tibetans inside Tibet. If the CCP treats the Tibetans with respect, even as a common Chinese Citizen, gives rights to Practice Religion, more freedom, more governmental jobs, retain Tibetan language. Respect the Human Rights, Invite the His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tibet.
On the eve of Buddha Purnima?