In a public message posted on his official website, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed sadness over the deadly earthquake that struck a high-altitude region in southern Tibet on Tuesday, lamenting the loss of life and property, and offering prayers to those who died.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook southern Tibet at 9:05 a.m. local time on Tuesday has been described as one of the most powerful in recent years. At least 126 people are confirmed to have been killed in Tingri, Lhatse, and Sa’gya Counties, with 188 reported to be injured, and 46,000 displaced. Sub-zero winter conditions are adding to the difficult conditions on the ground. Initial reports said that more than 3,600 homes had been destroyed in the city of Shigatse, which is home to some 800,000 people, and is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
His Holiness’s message, dated 7 January, stated:
I am deeply saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake that struck Dingri in Tibet and the surrounding regions this morning. It has caused the tragic loss of many lives, numerous injuries, and extensive destruction to homes and property.
I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and extend my wishes for a swift recovery to all who have been injured.
The Dalai Lama
Bylakuppe, South India (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
The Tibetan spiritual leader will conduct a public prayer ceremony in memory of the victims of the earthquake, which will be held from 9:00–9:45 a.m. at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, southern India on Thursday.
The Dalai Lama arrived in Bylakuppe on Sunday to a warm welcome from more than 10,000 laypeople and monks from the local Tibetan community. His Holiness is expected to spend about a month at the Tibetan settlement—the largest in the world outside of Tibet.
“Today, I have come to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, which was founded by the all-knowing Gyalwa Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama,” His Holiness said during a reception ceremony at the monastery. “In Tibet the monastery was renowned for the quality of the monks’ studies of Buddhist philosophy and logic. Gyalwa Ensepa was celebrated for the way he taught the essence of the pith instructions.” (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, was originally founded in 1447 in Shigatse, by the first Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gendun Drup. In the wake of the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the monastery was re-established in Bylakuppe in 1972 under the guidance of the 14th Dalai Lama.
“After the upheaval that took place in Tibet, the seat of learning known as Tashi Lhunpo was re-established here in exile,” His Holiness observed. “It is one of Tibet’s most important monasteries. Gyalwa Gendun Drup founded the monastery. I am his successor and I feel happy and honored to have reached here today.” (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
There have so far been no reports of damage from Tuesday’s earthquake to the original 15th-century Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
The epicenter of the temblor was recorded to be in the rural county of Tingri, about 80 kilometers north of Mount Everest and close to the meeting point of the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate, which mark a long fault-line across the Tibetan Plateau. Reuters news agency reported that the quake was so strong that part of the terrain at and around the epicenter slipped as much as 1.6 meters across a distance of 80 kilometers. Tremors from Tuesdays quake were also reported to have been felt in neighboring Bhutan, India, and Nepal.
Tibet lies over a seismically active area, recording more than 100 quakes of a magnitude of at least 3.0 in 2024. There have been nine tremors of magnitude 7.0 and above since the beginning of the 20th century.
See more
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Expresses Deep Sadness Over the Earthquake in Tibet (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
Arrival at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
Urgency mounts in search for survivors of powerful Tibet earthquake (Reuters)
Tibet earthquake: rescuers search for survivors after powerful quake kills 126 (The Guardian)
M 7.1 – 2025 Southern Tibetan Plateau Earthquake (USGS)
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