A powerful earthquake struck China’s Tibet on the morning of the 7th, resulting in over a hundred deaths. President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims on the 7th. The Mainland Affairs Council also expressed sympathy and concern.
At 9:05 am on the 7th, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Shigatse, Tibet, with a shallow depth of only 10 kilometers, causing strong tremors. Dingri County is the largest border county in Tibet with a population of about 60,000 residents. According to official Chinese media reports, this disaster has claimed 126 lives, injured 188 people, including 28 severely, and caused 3,609 houses to collapse. More than 30,000 people have been displaced and require relocation.
President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, tweeted on the 7th regarding the earthquake in Tibet, “Our hearts are with the people of Tibet and the surrounding areas affected by this earthquake. He expressed his deepest and most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for rescue and relief efforts to arrive as soon as possible to ensure the swift recovery of the disaster area.”
The Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China stated that at 9:05 am on the 7th, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred near Dingri County in Shigatse, Tibet, China. The government expressed sympathy to the relevant authorities in Mainland China through the existing cross-strait communication mechanism and requested the Straits Exchange Foundation to quickly ascertain if any Taiwanese nationals are trapped or injured in the area. If assistance is needed, please contact the emergency service hotline of the Straits Exchange Foundation at 02-2533-9995.
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan stated that aftershocks in the disaster area are ongoing, and the government will continue to closely monitor the latest seismic information and actual conditions on the ground, providing timely reference for nationals. They also urged Taiwanese nationals in the area to be cautious and mindful of their safety.
The Straits Exchange Foundation released a press statement on the 7th, expressing sincere concern and sympathy for the serious damage and casualties caused by the earthquake in the Shigatse area of Tibet. They have written to the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to convey heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and hope for the people in the disaster area to return to normal life as soon as possible.