At least 16 killed after 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Xizang
At least 16 people were killed and 11 others seriously injured after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday night, according to Nagqu City's earthquake relief headquarters as of 05:20 on Friday.
The earthquake struck Baqeng County in Nagqu City at 22:33 local time at a depth of 10 kilometers. Its epicenter was located at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the epicenter. An advance team from the Baqeng County Fire and Rescue Brigade, consisting of eight personnel and two vehicles, arrived in the early hours of Friday and rescued one person trapped under debris.
The Xizang Fire and Rescue Corps mobilized 347 rescue personnel, 82 fire vehicles and 15 search-and-rescue dogs. More than 4,200 pieces of equipment and over 9,400 items of logistical support supplies were also sent to the affected area.
More than 300 police officers were deployed to assist with evacuations, assess structural damage and maintain security in affected communities.
Maru Township, located around 70 kilometers from the county seat and close to the epicenter, was among the areas reporting serious damage.
Lhawang Dagpo, deputy head of the township, said houses had collapsed and rescue operations were underway in villages across the area. Cracks also appeared in the township government office building.
Strong shaking was reported in the county seat of Baqeng, where electricity was cut and telecommunications services were disrupted. Tremors were also felt in other parts of Xizang, including Qamdo and Nyingchi.
Xizang has activated a Level-II emergency response to the earthquake.
The office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management also activated a Level-IV emergency response and sent a working team to the affected area to help coordinate rescue and disaster relief efforts.
A 4.3-magnitude aftershock was recorded at 23:12 in neighboring Zadoi County in Qinghai Province. Cracks appeared in some houses in border townships, but no building collapses or casualties linked to the aftershock had been confirmed.
According to CCTV+, rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue to assess the scale of the damage and update casualty figures.
