PM Shehbaz condoles Tibet earthquake; Dalai Lama says he is “deeply saddened”

ISLAMABAD/TIBET: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake in Tibet.

He said, “The entire Pakistani nation is deeply saddened by the tragedy. Our sympathies are with the earthquake victims.”

Pakistan stands with the people of China in this hour of difficulty, the prime minister said.

DALAI LAMA OFFERS PRAYERS FOR VICTIMS

Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama said on Tuesday he was “deeply saddened” and was offering prayers for those killed in a devastating earthquake in China’s remote Himalayan region.

“I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and extend my wishes for a swift recovery to all who have been injured,” the exiled leader said in a statement.

EARTHQAUKE TOLL EXCEEDS 90

At least 95 people have been killed and dozens injured after a massive earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Tibet near the Nepalese border on Tuesday morning, according to Chinese state-owned media Xinhua.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported the initial tremor at 6:35 am IST, with a magnitude of 7.1. Two aftershocks followed soon after. The first, measuring 4.7, struck at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km, while the second, a 4.9-magnitude tremor, hit at 7:07 am at a depth of 30 km.

Local Chinese media reported at least 95 fatalities in and around the city of Shigatse in Tibet, while tremors were felt in neighbouring Nepal and India.

Video footage showed damaged buildings and crumbled shop fronts in the larger towns of Shigatse and Lhatse, with debris spilling out onto roads.

The holy city of Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama.

Also read: Massive earthquake shakes Tibet, 95 dead