At least 95 people killed as 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits China near Tibet holy city of Shigatse

At least 95 people have died and many are feared trapped after a strong earthquake in China, according to state media.

It struck in a mountainous area, near the border with Nepal, shortly after 9.05am (1.05am GMT), according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said it was 7.1 magnitude.

State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said the epicentre was in the Tingri region, about 240 miles from Tibet’s capital Lhasa and about 14 miles from the region’s second-largest city of Shigatse – also known as Xigaze.

At least 130 people have also reportedly been injured.

Shigatse is one of Tibet’s holiest cities.

It is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery – the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama – who’s second only to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism.

China state-run Xinhua News Agency, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters, said 62 had been injured alongside the 53 people killed.

About 1,500 fire and rescue workers have been deployed to search for people in the rubble, according to China’s ministry of emergency management.

State media said the initial earthquake was followed by a number of aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.4.

Tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, as well as Bhutan and northern India.

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

There have been 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday’s quake hit over the past century, the USGS said.

Earthquakes in China usually occur on the Tibetan Plateau or its fringes.

The area is where the India and Eurasia plates clash and cause uplifts that can be strong enough to change the heights of Himalayan peaks.