China closes Mount Everest scenic areas following 6.8-magnitude earthquake

China has closed the scenic areas on its side of Mount Everest, also known as Mount Qomolangma, to tourists following a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Tingri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region on January 7. Tingri is home to the northern base camp of the world’s highest peak.

Local authorities confirmed that both staff and tourists in the region were safe after the earthquake, which occurred at 9:05 a.m. Beijing Time on January 7, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Despite the severity of the tremor, the hotel buildings and surrounding areas in the scenic area remained intact.

However, the Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, located in Tingri, experienced a power outage. Despite this, officials stated that the research station's facilities remained in good condition.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and 6.8 as estimated by Chinese authorities, struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). It caused significant destruction, killing at least 95 people and injuring 62 others, according to the regional disaster relief headquarters. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India.

The quake triggered multiple aftershocks, toppling houses in remote Himalayan villages and rocking the nearby Tibetan holy city. Visitors at the Mount Everest base camp also experienced the tremors. Mount Qomolangma, located on the China-Nepal border, rises to an altitude of more than 8,840 meters (29,029 feet), with its northern section situated in Tibet, referred to as Xizang by China.

By Vafa Guliyeva