A magnitude-7 earthquake struck the Tibet region of China, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 people and injuring 54 others. The quake, which occurred at 10:33 PM local time on Thursday, primarily affected the northern city of Nagqu, where hundreds of homes collapsed.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with local officials reporting that at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds were destroyed. Over 1,600 people from the local county have been deployed to assist in these efforts. Emergency supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, and essential items such as torches and winter clothing, have been sent to the region.
Aftershocks Recorded
The US Geological Survey indicated that the earthquake's epicenter was located 191 km (119 miles) east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area, with a depth of 18 km. At least seven aftershocks have been recorded, with magnitudes ranging from 4.3 to 5.2, all at a depth of 10 km.
Videos from China’s national broadcaster CCTV captured scenes of panic as workers fled restaurants and items fell from supermarket shelves during the quake. Communication in some affected areas has been disrupted, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
