Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a telegram of condolences to the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in connection with the devastating earthquake that occurred in the Dingji County of Shigatse, located in southwestern China.

In his message, the President of Uzbekistan expressed deep sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.

On January 7, 2025, at 9:05 AM Beijing time (4:05 AM Tashkent time), a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Dingji County (Tingri) of Shigatse, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China.

According to the latest reports, the natural disaster has claimed the lives of nearly 100 people, with another 130 sustaining injuries of varying degrees.

The earthquake caused significant damage to the region’s infrastructure, with more than 1,000 buildings being either destroyed or damaged.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Tsogo Township of Dingji County, at coordinates 28.50° North latitude and 87.45° East longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Around 6,900 people live within a 20 km radius of the epicenter, and the total population of Dingji County exceeds 61,000 people.