Magnitude 5.3 quake rattles Tibet amid ongoing flood recovery efforts

On Tuesday, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in Tibet, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, with its focus 35 km beneath the surface. This tremor follows a magnitude 5 quake recorded five days earlier at a shallower depth of 10 km. The seismic activity arrives as Tibet faces heightened scrutiny after a massive flash flood on August 26, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, which sent a surge of water and debris down the Bhotekoshi River.

The flood devastated settlements in northern and central Nepal, killed at least 1,357 people, and left many more missing or trapped, including 121 individuals believed to be in underground tunnels at hydropower sites. Chinese officials note that climate change, glacier retreat, and extreme weather patterns are increasing the region’s vulnerability. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors and recover bodies, while authorities monitor over 30,000 glaciers, including high-risk ones, to anticipate further hazards.