On January 7, 2025, at 01:05 UTC, a magnitude Mw 7.1 earthquake struck Western Xizang (Tibet Autonomous Region), approximately 194 km northwest of Dārjiling, India. Occurring at a shallow depth of about 10 km (6 miles) , the earthquake caused severe shaking, resulting in widespread destruction. The hardest-hit area, Dingri County , reported the collapse of more than 1,000 houses , with 53 fatalities confirmed as of the latest reports. This event highlights the ongoing vulnerability of this tectonically active region. Seismic Activity and Regional Impact The earthquake originated near the border with Nepal, an area of high geological instability due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates . This dynamic has made the Himalayas one of the most seismically active regions in the world. In the past decade, the area has experienced several catastrophic earthquakes, most notably the Mw 7.8 Nepal earthquake of 2015 , which claimed nearly 9,000 lives (U...