Earthquake of magnitude 5.7 strikes China's Tibet

The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reports that a magnitude 5.7 earthquake rocked Tibet early Monday morning. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, which increases the possibility of aftershocks.

The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km at 5.11am local time (2111 GMT). The earthquake struck Shigatse at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). China’s Earthquake Administration authorities said emergency services were deployed and that no casualties have been reported so far.

Surface-level earthquakes, like the one that occurred recently, offer a larger risk than deeper ones because they release more energy closer to the Earth's surface. This can cause more extreme ground shaking, which increases the risk of damage and casualties.

Monday’s tremor comes just months after a devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Tingri county – about 240km (149 miles) from Shigatse – in January, killing more than 120 people and injuring more than 180.

The earthquake in January was felt in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. It was caused by deep tectonic shifts in the Lhasa block, part of the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

The Tibetan Plateau is prone to frequent seismic activity due to its tectonic location, making it one of the most earthquake-sensitive zones in the region.