New Delhi, May 12 – A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Tibet in the early hours of Monday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said, with no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
The quake occurred at 02:41 a.m. IST (2111 GMT, May 11) at a depth of 10 km, making it a shallow earthquake that could result in stronger surface-level shaking. The epicenter was located at latitude 29.02° North and longitude 87.48° East, the NCS said in a post on social media platform X.
The seismic event follows a smaller tremor of magnitude 3.7 that hit the region on May 8. Shallow earthquakes are typically more hazardous than deeper ones due to their proximity to the surface, often leading to more intense shaking and structural damage.
Tibet lies in a seismically active zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The ongoing continental collision contributes to frequent seismic activity as well as the gradual uplift of the Himalayan mountain range.
“Education about earthquakes and earthquake-resilient buildings, combined with funding for retrofits and resilient structures, can help protect people and buildings when strong earthquakes occur,” said Marianne Karplus, a seismologist and professor at the University of Texas at El Paso.
While experts caution that earthquakes cannot be predicted, Karplus added that scientific research can improve understanding of the underlying causes and potential impacts of seismic events in the region. Authorities have not issued any warnings or evacuation orders so far.
