Beijing: China has closed the scenic areas of its side of Mount Everest, also known as Mount Qomolangma, to tourists following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday.
Dingri is home to the base camp of the world’s highest peak.
Local authorities reported that both staff and tourists were safe after the earthquake, which hit the region at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time).
The earthquake resulted in 53 fatalities and 62 injuries, according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.
State-run Xinhua news agency, citing the Dingri Culture and Tourism Bureau, reported that the hotel buildings and surrounding areas in the scenic area remained intact.
However, the Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Dingri, is experiencing a power outage. Despite this, the station’s facilities have remained in good condition.
Located on the China-Nepal border, Mount Qomolangma stands at an altitude of more than 8,840 meters, with its northern section in Tibet, which China refers to as Xizang.
The weather forecast indicated that Dingri’s temperatures ranged from minus 18 degrees Celsius to zero.
In 2024, the Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma attracted 13,764 overseas tourists, more than double the number recorded in 2023. Most visitors were from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and France, according to the County Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
