Reported By Palden
Edited by Pema Tso
Translated By TenGyal
A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck Khyungchu County in Tibet this morning. In response, the Chinese government has imposed restrictions on the sharing of photos and videos related to the event.
Early this morning, January 20, at approximately 5:07 AM, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck Khyungchu County, affecting nearby regions including Zoege County, Ngaba County, Sungchu County, and Machu County. The strongest tremors were reported in Dachen and Serdheu villages in Khyungchu County. While a few brief reports have appeared in government-controlled media, the Chinese government has imposed strict restrictions on information related to the earthquake across social media platforms. Consequently, there is no reliable information available about the extent of human casualties, livestock losses, or damage to households.
A related source reported that the earthquake, which struck Khyungchu County and nearby regions at around 5 a.m., was relatively mild in strength. While there were incidents of household items falling and porcelain utensils breaking, no confirmed reports of casualties or significant structural damage have emerged so far. However, the affected areas are experiencing electricity outages and severe disruptions to internet connectivity.
Another source said, “Today’s earthquake in Khyungchu County was most strongly felt in the lower river regions, including the villages of Dachen, Mewa, and Serdheu. Government officials and police arrived early in the morning, advising locals to pitch tents outdoors as a precautionary measure.”
Another source also described that since the powerful earthquake devastated the Shigatse region, numerous photos and videos were widely shared on social media platforms both within and outside Tibet. In response, Chinese authorities have imposed strict controls on the publication of photos and videos related to the recent earthquake in Matoe County in Golog and the current earthquake in Khyunchu County. Furthermore, they are threatening individuals with arrest if they share disaster-related content online.
This morning, mild earthquakes with magnitudes below 5 on the Richter scale were recorded in the Tibetan regions of Dritoe County in Qinghai Province, Dhongkye County in Shigatse, and Ashgar Prefecture in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
