A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province on Friday, while rescue operations continued in the Himalayan region following devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck China’s southwestern Sichuan province on Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre, as the Himalayan region remained on alert following deadly floods along the Nepal-China border.

The earthquake was reported in Longchang city in Sichuan, hundreds of miles from the flood-hit areas near the Nepal-Tibet border. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage from the tremor.

The earthquake occurred amid continuing rescue and relief operations in Tibet and Nepal after a devastating flash flood and landslide struck the border region earlier this week. The disaster has killed hundreds of people and left hundreds missing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday chaired a meeting of top officials on rescue operations in Tibet. Authorities warned of continuing risks from glaciers, ice lakes and geological disasters, which are complicating rescue efforts.

Nepal has also issued fresh flood warnings after water levels rose at the site of the earlier disaster. Authorities have urged residents and rescue workers in vulnerable areas to move to safer ground.

China has warned of a possible breach of a newly formed barrier lake near the border, raising fears of further flooding downstream.


Tags: