The area most affected is surrounded by mountainous terrain on the Chinese side of Mount Everest.

The epicentre of the earthquake was recorded at around 177 kilometres southwest of Shigatse, Tibet and according to the USGS, hit at a depth of 10 kilometres. Source: Supplied / USGS

Buildings ‘cracked open’

“Some of the older houses collapsed, and a large part of the buildings made from bricks had cracked open, with big fissures,” Meng said.

Thousands of rescuers dispatched

Authorities said more than 3,400 rescuers and over 340 medical workers had been deployed.

French President Emmanuel Macron offered assistance to those affected, while Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “sincerest condolences”. –

The high-altitude county in the Tibet region is situated on the Chinese side of Mount Everest. Source: AP / AP

As well as Kathmandu, areas around Lobuche — in the high mountains near Everest in Nepal — were also rattled by the tremor and aftershocks.

A quake in December 2023 in northwest China killed 148 people and displaced thousands in Gansu province.