STORY: Braving cold, quake rescuers race against time on world's highest plateau  
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 7-8, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 8, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:01
LOCATION: XIGAZE, China 
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of rescuing and relief efforts after the quake

STORYLINE:

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region around 9 a.m. Tuesday, toppling thousands of rural houses. By Tuesday midnight, a total of 126 people had been confirmed dead and 188 others injured.

The epicenter of the earthquake is located in Tsogo Township of Dingri County in the city of Xigaze. An all-out rescue operation has been ongoing in 27 quake-hit villages within a 20-km radius of the epicenter, where approximately 6,900 people reside.
   
With an average altitude of 4,500 meters, Dingri County is home to the northern base camp of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak. It is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang, which has a population of over 60,000.

Adding to the rescue difficulties, temperatures plummeted below minus 10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night. However, more and more rescuers, including firefighters, police officers and soldiers, have arrived at the scene.

With flashlights and sniffer dogs, the rescuers worked non-stop over the night in the hope of saving as many people as they can within the first 72 hours of "golden period" after the disaster.

As the search and rescue efforts went on, urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area.

Meanwhile, thanks to the emergency repairs, power was restored at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, just an hour after the quake in Gurum Village. By around 5 p.m., all residents had moved into makeshift tents.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xigaze, China.
(XHTV)