A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has hit a Tibetan region near Mount Everest, sending tremors through Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu, just before dawn on Tuesday.

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was located 57 miles from Lobuche in Nepal, along the mountainous border with Tibet in China.

Data from the USGC showed that Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, itself experienced tremors of 4.5-magnitude.

The USGC said of the region affected: ‘Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist.

‘The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud construction.’

It is not currently known if there were any climbers on Everest at the time of the earthquake, which could potentially be disastrous.

In 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal triggered a massive avalanche from Pumori, a nearby mountain, that sent snow into Everest’s Base Camp, killing at least 22.

At least 61 people were left injured. It is still the deadliest disaster on the mountain. Nepal is particularly prone to earthquakes, given its site on the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.