At least 126 people have died and more than 188 have been injured after a series of six earthquakes, including a powerful 7.1 magnitude tremor, struck Tibet within an hour on Tuesday. The earthquakes caused widespread shaking in regions across India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

The epicenter of the quakes was located in Tingri county in Tibet, a region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, creating the potential for powerful seismic activity that can even alter the heights of some of the Himalayas' tallest peaks.

Several buildings near the epicenter collapsed, according to Chinese media reports. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV confirmed that the surrounding areas experienced strong tremors, and many structures near the epicenter were destroyed.

The tremors were felt across several regions in India, including the National Capital Region (NCR), Patna in Bihar, West Bengal, and northeastern states like Assam. In Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, residents were startled by the strong shaking, and many rushed out of their homes. The country's disaster management authorities reported that the tremors were felt in seven hill districts bordering Tibet.

One resident of Kathmandu, Meera Adhikari, described the experience: "I was sleeping when the bed started shaking, and I initially thought my child was moving it. But when the window started shaking, I realized it was an earthquake. I quickly called my child, evacuated the house, and went to open ground."

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1, struck near the Nepal-Tibet border at 6:35 am, according to the National Centre for Seismology. This is a strong tremor capable of causing significant damage. Chinese officials recorded the magnitude at 6.8 in Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city.

Two aftershocks, measuring 4.7 and 4.9 in magnitude, were reported from the same region.

The epicenter was located where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating strong uplifts in the Himalayan mountains, which can impact the heights of some of the tallest peaks in the world.

CCTV also mentioned that there have been 29 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3 or higher within 200 kilometers of Shigatse in the past five years, though none were as powerful as Tuesday's earthquake.

The Indian government expressed condolences to those affected by the disaster. A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said, "The Government and people of India express condolences on the tragic loss of life and property caused by the devastating earthquake in Tibet. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."