While rescuers continue search for survivors, another quake shakes Tibet; Death toll at over 125

Tibet was shaken by another earthquake with a Richter scale magnitude of 4.0 on the morning of Jan 8. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Xizang, and it struck at approximately 06:58 am (IST).

This follows a devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake that shattered Tibet and claimed over 125 lives. The epicenter was about 10 kilometers below the surface.

The earthquake, which had a Richter scale value of roughly 4.2, was also felt in neighboring Nepal.

Xigaze, the last Tibetan border town along the Nepal-Tibet-Indian trijunction that touches Sikkim, is situated 90 kilometers northeast of Lobutse in the Khumbu Himalayan region of northeastern Nepal.

The Panchen Lama, the second most powerful Buddhist monk after the Dalai Lama, resides in Xigaze, also known as Shigatse.

Around 125 people were killed and over 180 injured in a major earthquake that struck southern Tibet earlier on Jan 7 followed by over 20 shocks within 24 hours.

More than 400 people were trapped under debris as rescue operations continued for the second day on Jan 8.

The shocks caused people to flee to the streets in portions of Nepal and India as well.

The US Geological Service (USGS) estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 7.1, although the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) reported it was 6.8.

Even though the visitors and employees of the several resorts in the region were said to be safe, China has declared the closure of the tourist attractions close to its side of Mount Everest.

In addition to ordering a full-scale rescue operation in the impacted areas, China President Xi Jinping urged measures to prevent future disasters, relocate impacted residents appropriately, and manage the aftermath efficiently.

Due to its location just above the meeting point of the tectonic Eurasian and Indian plates, which frequently collide with tremendous power, the Tibetan plateau is considered to be vulnerable to strong earthquakes.

According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, China's Ministry of Water Resources said inspections following the Jan 7 earthquake had not shown any effects on the country's dams or reservoirs.