China closes Mount Everest scenic areas for tourists after strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake

A strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County in Tibet’s Xigaze region on Tuesday morning, forcing scenic areas on the Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, to close. The quake, which hit at 9:05 am Beijing Time, resulted in extensive damage, killing 53 people and injuring 62, regional disaster relief officials said.

Effects on Tourists and Local Infrastructure After 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake

Dingri County, where the world’s highest mountain base camp is located, was severely affected. The authorities confirmed that all staff and tourists in the area were safe. According to Xinhua News Agency, hotel buildings and other tourist facilities around the area were structurally sound despite the destruction.

At the moment, there is no power supply in Dingri Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research. No great damage was reported though, but it remains closed the scenic areas because of the presence of visitors and locals.

Mt. Qomolangma Tourist Numbers and Information

The Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma, commonly known as Mount Everest, has witnessed a high number of tourists. In 2024, more than 13,760 international tourists visited the region, which is more than double the number recorded in 2023. Most of the tourists came from Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and France.

This high-altitude earthquake shows the delicate balance between tourism and preparedness in natural disasters. Efforts are on to bring normalcy to the area, with temperatures hovering between minus 18°C and zero at Dingri.

Closure of scenic areas at Mount Qomolangma, meanwhile, puts the onus of safety above tourism in such unpredictable natural disasters.