Deadly earthquake hits Tibet, tremors felt in Nepal, India

Published

1 year ago

January 7, 2025

The earthquake damaged houses across the mountainous region © Jigme Dorje/Xinhua/picture alliance

At least 120 people have been reported dead after a powerful earthquake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Tremors were also felt in Nepal and India.

More than 120 people have been killed after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck in the Himalayas on Tuesday morning, while almost 200 more were injured in the natural disaster.

Local Chinese media reported at least 126 fatalities in and around the city of Shigatse in Tibet, while tremors were felt in neighboring Nepal and India.

“A reporter learned from the Tibet Autonomous Region earthquake bureau that people have been killed,” the Xinhua state news agency said, listing the Changsuo, Quluo and Cuoguo townships in Dingri County.

“A total of 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others injured,” the agency added later.

The death toll later increase to at least 126, while as many as 188 were injured, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported, though the number of deaths may yet increase further as some of those wounded are in a serious condition and others remain missing.

Where was the Tibet earthquake epicenter?

The quake struck at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 UTC/GMT) and had an epicenter depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Xinhua revised the magnitude down from an earlier estimation of 6.9.

The US Geological Survey reported the tremor as magnitude 7.1.

The epicenter was about 75 kilometers northeast of Mount Everest, which straddles the China-Nepal border.

Aftershocks reported

By 10 a.m., “multiple aftershocks” had been recorded, the largest measuring 4.4 in magnitude, added Xinhua’s reporter.

“Dingri county and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicenter have collapsed,” state broadcaster CCTV said.

Around 1,500 emergency workers were already on hand to search for victims and survivors in the rubble, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.

Video footage seen by the Reuters news agency showed damaged buildings and crumbled shop fronts in the larger towns of Xigaze and Lhatse, with debris spilling out onto roads.

A holy city, Xigaze is the seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama.

Tremors felt in Nepal and India

Tremors were felt in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu some 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, where residents ran from their houses.

Nepali people gathered outside of their homes after the earthquake was felt as far as Kathmandu
© Sunil Sharma/ZUMA Press Wire/picture alliance

“We felt a very strong earthquake but so far we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss,” said Anoj Raj Ghimire, chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal.

“We have mobilized police and other security forces as well as locals to collect information about the damage,” he added.

Shudders were also felt in the northern Indian state of Bihar, but officials reported no signs of damage.

Why is the region prone to earthquakes?

The area is seismically active and is located where the India and Eurasia plates clash, causing uplifts in the Himalayan mountains that can change or even form some of the tallest peaks in the world.

While earthquakes are common in the mountainous region, Tuesday’s quake was the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the last five years, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

A 7.8-magnitude quake killed some 9,000 people and in Nepal in 2015.

jsi,mf/zc,kb (AFP, Reuters, AP)

IPOB group cancels sit at home on Nnamdi Kanu’s directive

Published

2 hours ago

February 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says it has cancelled its sit at home order across the South East.

The group announced the decision in a statement on Saturday, saying it followed a directive from its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

According to IPOB, Kanu instructed the leadership to suspend the action in the interest of peace and the return of normal economic activities in the region.

The group said the move is aimed at easing hardship on residents and allowing businesses, schools and other daily activities to run without disruption.

IPOB urged people in the South East to go about their lawful activities. It also reaffirmed its commitment to non violence and peaceful engagement.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUfqBK9jJde/?igsh=MWV4bnB0YnZ6NnJscg==

Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

Published

1 day ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

Published

2 days ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.