Relief Efforts Continue in Dingri Following Recent Earthquakes

In the aftermath of a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in the Xizang Autonomous Region on January 7, the area has been shaken by ongoing tremors, including a notable aftershock measuring 5.0. Despite the seismic activity, there have been no reports of casualties, and essential transport and power systems are functioning normally, as confirmed by local authorities.

The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported that shallow quakes, including a significant 5.0 aftershock, occurred shortly after another magnitude 4.9 quake on Monday night, both with a depth of around 10 kilometers. In the following days, other minor quakes, including a 3.2-magnitude tremor in the nearby Dingjie County, were recorded. While some fragile buildings suffered damage, the lack of casualties is attributed to the residents having moved to more secure temporary shelters, such as tents and prefabricated homes.

Tashi Dondrup, the head of Dingri County, indicated that local officials swiftly engaged with villages near the epicenters to assess damage following the tremors. Inspections of key transportation routes revealed that national highways and provincial roads remain accessible, and the power systems continue to operate without issues. Aerial surveys conducted by military helicopters have further supported the assessment of infrastructure damage.

Village representatives reported that despite the continued tremors, community access to basic necessities like water and electricity remains unaffected. In Gadan Village, official Wu Qixun noted that the situation was stable, with plentiful resources for both rescue and relief operations. Similarly, Tenzin Phuntsok from Zacun Village stated that damaged homes were surveyed, and construction of new prefabricated houses was underway, ensuring that safety measures were in place for all villagers.

In response to the ongoing earthquake risks, local authorities are conducting thorough evaluations of roads and power infrastructure. Efforts to aid victims are being coordinated effectively, with over 407 individuals rescued and more than 199,000 emergency supplies distributed to those affected by the disaster. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported significant progress, with thousands of damaged homes inspected and thousands of temporary dwellings constructed, highlighting the organized response to the humanitarian crisis.