53 dead, 62 injured in Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake

Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured as of 12:30 Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Xizang Autonomous Region at 09:05 Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.

Over 1,000 houses have sustained varying degrees of damage.

Following the quake, China Earthquake Administration launched a level-II emergency service response and sent a work team to the site to assist with disaster relief efforts. Xizang Autonomous Region also issued a level-II emergency response to the quake.

Some 22,000 disaster relief items, including cotton tents, cotton coats, quilts and folding beds, together with special relief materials for high-altitude and frigid areas, have been dispatched by central authorities to the quake-hit area. Over 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers have also been dispatched to the ground.

The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter is located in Tsogo Township of Dingri County, which has a population of approximately 6,900 people within a 20-km radius. There are 27 villages within this area. Official data show Dingri County has a population of over 61,000 people.

A strong earthquake was felt in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday morning, and police said no damage has been reported yet.

Nepal Police spokesperson Bishwa Adhikari told media that police nationwide have been told to find what had happened, and so far there has been no report of human casualty or material damage.

Lok Bijaya Adhikari, a senior seismologist at Nepal's National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, put the magnitude of the earthquake in Nepal at 7.0.

53 dead, 62 injured in Xizang 6.8-magnitude quake

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama took the oath of office on Tuesday after winning the presidential election in December last year.

A large crowd of Ghanaians from all walks of life, along with party supporters, gathered at the Black Star Square in Accra, the country's capital, to witness the grand ceremony. The event was also attended by African heads of state and other foreign dignitaries.

Mahama previously served one term as the country's leader but lost in the 2016 elections. He has taken over from Nana Akufo Addo who has led the country for the last eight years.

Mahama said he will hit the ground running, as he tries to put Ghana on the path to economic recovery.

"I will be decisive and swift in my actions. We will focus our initial efforts on four critical areas. The first is economic restoration and stabilization of the macroeconomic environment. Second is the improvement of the business and investment environment to ensure that Ghana is once again open for business," he said.

Mahama lost the 2016 election after overseeing a government rocked with a series of corruption scandals. But with thousands attending the swearing-in ceremony, many have been prepared to give him a second chance.

"I am really happy to witness this event. I pray that God gives the president strength and wisdom to turn things around because we are really struggling. I also pray that John Mahama has a peaceful reign as president," said a resident.

Mahama has planned to implement 26 key policies to improve Ghana's economy and social development in the next 120 days in office. All eyes will be keenly watching, as he tries to take millions of Ghanaians out of poverty.

In the coming days, he is expected to appoint his ministers, and will be counting on them to help make his pledge to turn Ghana's economy around a reality.

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president