A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck the Tibetan region near the Nepal border on January 7, 2025. The earthquake's epicenter was about 80 km north of Mount Everest and 10 km below the surface.
Here's a simplified explanation:
What happened? A powerful earthquake hit Tibet, near the border with Nepal.
Where was the epicenter? Tingry County, Shigatse, Tibet, about 80 km north of Mount Everest. The area is about 4-5 km above sea level and has about 7,000 residents.
What was the impact? At least 95 people died and over 130 were injured in China. Many houses were destroyed. The earthquake was felt in Kathmandu (Nepal) and Kolkata (India).
Why are earthquakes common in this area?
The Himalayan region is where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide.
These plates are constantly pushing against each other, causing stress and leading to earthquakes.
The Indian plate moves north by about 60 mm (about 2.4 inches) each year.
Many earthquakes have occurred in this region in the past.
What is the Lhasa terrane? A geological part of Tibet that is important for understanding the cause of the earthquake. It is also where large construction projects are taking place, including a large hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
Why is the Yarlung Tsangpo River important? It flows into India, where it becomes the Brahmaputra River. There are concerns about how the dam might affect the river's flow into India.
Why is the Himalayan region called the "third pole"? Because it has a lot of freshwater stored in its glaciers and snow, similar to the North and South Poles.
What are the risks of future earthquakes?
Experts warn that the western Himalayas (from the Hindu Kush mountains to Arunachal Pradesh) are at risk of a very large earthquake (possibly greater than magnitude 8).
Energy is building up along the fault lines.
Historical records show that there haven't been many large surface ruptures in the Himalayas in the last 500 years, suggesting that a major earthquake is possible.
What causes earthquakes?
Earthquakes happen when tectonic plates move suddenly along faults (cracks in the Earth's crust).
The Earth's surface is made up of many plates that are always moving.
Friction can cause these plates to get stuck.
When the stress from this friction becomes too great, the plates suddenly slip, releasing energy and causing an earthquake.
Key Terms/Places:
Tingry County: The location of the earthquake's epicenter.
Lhasa terrane: A geological part of Tibet.
Yarlung Tsangpo River: A major river that flows into India as the Brahmaputra.
Hindu Kush: A mountain range west of the Himalayas.
In simple terms:
A strong earthquake struck Tibet near Mount Everest, causing deaths and damage. This area is prone to earthquakes because of the movement of tectonic plates. Experts warn that even larger earthquakes are possible in the future.