Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 28: Twin earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.8 in magnitude struck Drakkar County in Tsolho (Ch. Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Tibet’s Amdo region on Tuesday morning, triggering landslides and sending tremors across neighbouring areas.
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the first earthquake struck at 11:16 a.m. local time, registering a magnitude of 5.7 with a focal depth of 10 kilometres. Just 18 minutes later, a second, slightly stronger 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the same area at a similar depth.
Videos circulated by Chinese state media showed large plumes of dust billowing from mountain slopes, indicating landslides triggered by the powerful shaking. The tremors were reportedly felt in Xining, the capital of so called Qinghai Province, as well as in Lanzhou, the capital of neighbouring Gansu Province.
As of publication, there were no confirmed reports of fatalities, injuries, or collapsed buildings, although authorities continue to assess the impact in the affected area.
The twin earthquakes come amid growing concern among geologists and seismologists over heightened seismic activity across the Himalayan region, particularly the Tibetan Plateau. Earlier this year, on January 26, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Thewo (Tewo) County in Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province at a depth of 10 kilometres, causing damage to several villages.
The Himalayan belt remains one of the world’s most seismically active regions due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making strong earthquakes a persistent geological hazard across Tibet and surrounding areas.
