Tents and other essential supplies are being distributed to survivors of a deadly earthquake in Tibet, which killed 126 people and rendered thousands homeless in freezing high-altitude conditions, reports AP.

Rescue workers continued searching on Wednesday for victims and survivors near the holy Tibetan Buddhist city of Xigaze, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, following the quake that struck a day earlier.

Strong earthquake kills at least 95 people in western China near Mount Everest

The confirmed death toll stands at 126, with 188 injured, as of Tuesday evening. Temperatures in the region, averaging an altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet), dropped well below freezing overnight. Over 3,600 houses collapsed, forcing 30,000 residents to relocate, according to a preliminary survey cited by the city government.

The epicenter of the earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 7.1 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, was approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Xigaze and about 75 kilometers (50 miles) from Mount Everest and Nepal's border. Chinese authorities recorded the magnitude at 6.8. The quake also caused widespread panic in Nepal, where people fled their homes in the capital, it said.

Earthquake kills 126 people in China near Mount Everest

Gurum village, with a population of 222, reported 22 deaths, including the mother of its Communist Party chief, Tsering Phuntsog, who noted that even young residents struggled to escape collapsing buildings. Several of his relatives remain buried under debris.

The region’s historical and political significance has added complexity to the disaster response. Xigaze is home to the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, associated with the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s second-highest figure. A decades-long dispute exists between the Chinese government and followers of the Dalai Lama regarding the Panchen Lama’s legitimacy, following the disappearance of a Dalai Lama-appointed boy in the mid-1990s, added the report.

The Chinese government claims Tibet as part of its territory, while many Tibetans argue they were largely independent before China’s 1950 invasion. This tension, coupled with Tibet’s restrictions on foreign journalists, often limits external reporting on the region.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with 1,850 rescuers, including firefighters and emergency personnel, deployed, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. Communications in the area have been restored, facilitating the delivery of relief items such as tents and quilts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out rescue efforts to save lives and minimize casualties,” Xinhua reported. Despite this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the Dalai Lama's plans to lead a prayer ceremony in Dharamsala, India, for the earthquake victims, reaffirming the government's stance against him. Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama and a significant Tibetan exile community, also plans to hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night.

Strong earthquake kills at least 95 people in western China near Mount Everest

More than 500 aftershocks have been recorded, underscoring the earthquake’s intensity. Chinese officials remain confident in their ability to rebuild under the Communist Party’s leadership.