Watch: What caused Tibetan China’s earthquake

On January 7, 2025 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Tibetan China and Nepal.

Chinese state media had reported 126 people had been killed, 188 injured, and hundreds of houses flattened on its side of the border.

There have also been reports of the tremors being felt as far away as Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Kolkata.

Visuals: AFP, The Hindu Archives and Getty images

Production and Voiceover: Yuvasree S

What’s the claim?

Following a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Tibet near the Nepal border on January 7, 2025, a video has gone viral on social media showing a road with large cracks running through it. Several users claimed the video depicts destruction caused by the recent earthquake in Nepal’s Lobuche. One such post on X garnered over 50,000 views and more than 160 reposts at the time of writing. Archived versions of similar posts are available here and here.

The video has also gained wide traction on Facebook, with similar claims suggesting it was captured in Nepal after the January 7 earthquake. Archived versions of such posts are accessible here, here, and here.

 Screenshot of claims made online. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

According to a report by The Washington Post, the earthquake near the China-Nepal border claimed at least 125 lives and injured 188 others. The quake struck Tingri County, located on the high Tibetan plateau near Nepal’s border.

However, the now-viral video is not related to this recent earthquake. It dates back to 2015, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal near Kathmandu, causing nearly 6,000 deaths, injuring thousands, and resulting in massive infrastructural losses.

What we found

Logically Facts conducted a reverse image search and identified a similar video in an article published by The Guardian on April 25, 2015. The article detailed the catastrophic effects of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015. It was among the most powerful earthquakes to hit the region in 80 years.

The viral video and footage from The Guardian share striking similarities. At the 0:27 timestamp of The Guardian’s video, individuals can be seen standing near a cracked road, matching the scene shown at the 0:25 mark of the viral clip.

 Comparison showing the scenes in the viral clip and The Guardian clip. (Source: X/ The Guardian)

The viral video also features a Telegraph logo, indicating its origin. A keyword search led to the same clip uploaded on YouTube by The Telegraph (archived here) on April 25, 2015. The video description reads, “Footage shows large cracks opening up in a Kathmandu road, caused by a powerful earthquake that left at least 1,130 dead, according to local police.”

Although the video depicts earthquake damage in Nepal, it is from 2015, not the recent event.

The verdict

A video of the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal has been falsely linked to the recent earthquake at the Tibet-Nepal border recorded on January 7, 2025.

(This story was originally published by Logically Facts, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective)

New Delhi:

India on Tuesday expressed condolences on the deaths and destruction caused by a devastating earthquake in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

At least 126 people were killed and dozens wounded in the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Tibet.

Interestingly, India’s message of condolences did not mention China.

“Government and people of India express condolences on the tragic loss of life and property caused by the devastating earthquake in the Tibet Autonomous Region,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on ‘X’.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” he said without mentioning China.

Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or political head of Tibet’s Dharamshala-based government-in-exile also offered prayers to all those affected by the earthquake.

“The Central Tibetan Administration deeply mourns the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Dingri region and surrounding areas in Tibet this morning,” Tsering said on ‘X’.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), along with Tibetans around the world, extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to all those affected by this tragedy, he said.

“We continue to monitor the situation inside Tibet. Keeping the victims in our thoughts and prayers, the CTA and Tibetans in and around Dharamshala will hold a prayer service tomorrow at Tsuglagkhang,” Tsering said.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama lives in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

After a failed anti-Chinese uprising in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and came to India where he set up the government-in-exile.

China has in the past accused the Dalai Lama of indulging in “separatist” activities and trying to split Tibet and considers him as a “divisive” figure.

However, the Tibetan spiritual leader has insisted that he is not seeking independence but “genuine autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet” under the “Middle-way approach”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 hit Tibet near the Nepalese border today, the tremors of which were felt in several parts of India, including Bihar, Assam and West Bengal. 

Nepal is nestled in a geologically active region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, forming the Himalayas and making earthquakes a frequent occurrence.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake was recorded at 6:35 am. NCS data reveals that two more earthquakes hit the region shortly after the first one. 

EQ of M: 4.7, On: 07/01/2025 07:02:07 IST, Lat: 28.60 N, Long: 87.68 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Xizang.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/3Pt2VY6jRX

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 7, 2025

The second earthquake of magnitude 4.7 was recorded at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km and the third earthquake of magnitude 4.9 at 7:07 am at a depth of 30 km. 

EQ of M: 4.9, On: 07/01/2025 07:07:23 IST, Lat: 28.68 N, Long: 87.54 E, Depth: 30 Km, Location: Xizang.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/ixbmB92ZNm

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 7, 2025

The tremors were particularly felt in Bihar where people were seen outside their houses and apartments. There have been no reports of any damage to property because of the earthquake.

Details to follow.