Kyiba, from Nesemo village in Dingri county's Shekar township, prepares to offer fresh pastries to guests in her newly built house. The treats are part of her preparations for the Losar New Year, which falls in two weeks. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Despite temperatures dropping to -16 C at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, warmth is filling homes in Dingri county that were rebuilt in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in January last year in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.
Inside reinforced concrete houses, steam rises from pots simmering on stoves. The cold winter is no longer as daunting as it once was.
On Jan 7, 2025, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri and neighboring counties, killing many and destroying tens of thousands of homes. One year on, survivors are rebuilding their lives, supported by large-scale government reconstruction.
Post-disaster relief has reached seven counties, 47 towns, and 486 villages. More than 22,000 houses have been rebuilt, and more than 10,500 homes have been repaired and reinforced.
Nesemo village resident Kunzang, from Nesemo village in Dingri county's Shekar township, soaks herself in the morning sunshine on Monday in her new house, which was built by the government after the 6.8-magnitude quake one year ago. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Phurbu Dorje, deputy mayor of Shigatse, said reconstruction work began in early March and has now been completed. "Residents moved into new homes in the same year they were affected by the disaster," he said.
For residents like Tashi Dondrub, the change has been life-altering. On the day of the earthquake, he was working away from home as a repairman. "I was terrified and worried about my family," he recalled.
Cracks later appeared in the walls of his adobe house. The structure was eventually replaced with a 70-square-meter home made of reinforced concrete.
"Our old house wasn't warm or bright," Tashi said. "The new one feels sturdy. We don't worry as much about earthquakes anymore."
Nesemo village resident Kunzang, from Nesemo village in Dingri county's Shekar township, soaks herself in the morning sunshine on Monday in her new house, which was built by the government after the 6.8-magnitude quake one year ago. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Nesemo village resident Tenzin Lhamo is busy preparing for the coming Losar New Year Festival in her newly built house. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Tashi Dondrub (right) helps his son Tenzin Namgyal with his homework in their new house in Nesemo village of Dingri county. The house was built by the government as a quake recovery project. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Villagers in Zangkar village of Dingri county's Dramso township buy Tibetan robes at a stall in their newly built village to prepare for the coming Losar New Year Festival. [Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Tashi Dondrub sweeps the floor at the doorway of his new house in Nesemo village of Dingri county. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Tashi Dondrub (left) with his son Tenzin Namgyal sit around a stove in their new house in Nesemo village of Dingri county. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
