Scientists say human activities, including mining and massive dam building, cause earthquakes in Tibet, compounding the impact on billions of people downstream.
-by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya
A recent earthquake has suddenly brought Tibet back to the media’s attention after a long hiatus of Chinese shutdown and information blockade. The quake claimed many lives, although official reports say 126 only. However, the real figure is estimated much higher. The disaster displaced around 45,000 people with many still missing.
This earthquake is a clear message to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership and to the international community about what is happening in Tibet. The Tibetan plateau has witnessed frequent earthquakes and landslides in the past few years. While the authorities attribute these earthquakes as natural disasters due to the friction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, many see them as man-made disasters prompted by rampant damming and mining activities on the Tibetan plateau.
This paper will examine and explore why the Tibetan plateau is experiencing such natural disasters, what is the possible cause, and the remedy.
What Happened?
On the morning of January 7, a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.1 followed by a series of aftershocks struck southwestern Tibet. Its epicenter was in Dingri County, Shigatse prefecture, some 270 km from the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
The earthquakes claimed many lives and left the region and areas around it devastated. Tremors were felt in Nepal, India, and Bhutan, such was the intensity. While the United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake as 7.1 on the Ritcher scale, the China Earthquake Networks Center records it as 6.8. The earthquake is said to be among the worst tremors to hit the Himalayan region in 100 years.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked about help from Nepal, India, and others. In response, he simply said, “Currently China’s search, rescue, and medical care support is well guaranteed. We appreciate the care and support from the international community,” thus directly avoiding the question. Click here to read more.
