TIBET, CHINA: A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China’s Tibet Autonomous Region late Thursday night, leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens injured, while hundreds of homes and other structures were damaged or destroyed.
The earthquake struck at around 10:33 p.m. local time in Baqen County of Nagqu City, in northern Tibet. China’s earthquake monitoring authorities placed the epicentre in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area, while the U.S. Geological Survey located it about 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu.
The strong shaking caused widespread structural damage. Local authorities reported that more than 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, with emergency teams continuing to assess the full extent of destruction. Rockfalls also affected roads, forcing the temporary closure of a section of National Highway 317.
Rescue operations have been intensified across the affected region. More than **1,600 personnel** have been deployed, while emergency supplies including temporary shelters, tents, beds and winter clothing have been sent to displaced residents. Communications were disrupted in some areas, and railway services were also temporarily affected.
Several aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquake, adding to concerns among residents and rescue workers. Authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations and assessing whether additional casualties or damage may emerge from remote communities.
The earthquake occurred in one of the world's highest and most geologically active regions. The extreme altitude and difficult terrain are expected to make rescue and relief efforts particularly challenging, especially as intermittent snowfall is forecast in the affected area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out rescue effort and called for injured people to receive prompt medical treatment.
The disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of communities living across the earthquake-prone Himalayan and Tibetan plateau, where powerful seismic activity can have severe consequences because of rugged terrain, high altitude and isolated settlements.
The Bharatio Times | WORLD
The earthquake struck at around 10:33 p.m. local time in Baqen County of Nagqu City, in northern Tibet. China’s earthquake monitoring authorities placed the epicentre in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area, while the U.S. Geological Survey located it about 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu.
The strong shaking caused widespread structural damage. Local authorities reported that more than 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, with emergency teams continuing to assess the full extent of destruction. Rockfalls also affected roads, forcing the temporary closure of a section of National Highway 317.
Rescue operations have been intensified across the affected region. More than **1,600 personnel** have been deployed, while emergency supplies including temporary shelters, tents, beds and winter clothing have been sent to displaced residents. Communications were disrupted in some areas, and railway services were also temporarily affected.
Several aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquake, adding to concerns among residents and rescue workers. Authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations and assessing whether additional casualties or damage may emerge from remote communities.
The earthquake occurred in one of the world's highest and most geologically active regions. The extreme altitude and difficult terrain are expected to make rescue and relief efforts particularly challenging, especially as intermittent snowfall is forecast in the affected area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out rescue effort and called for injured people to receive prompt medical treatment.
The disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of communities living across the earthquake-prone Himalayan and Tibetan plateau, where powerful seismic activity can have severe consequences because of rugged terrain, high altitude and isolated settlements.
The Bharatio Times | WORLD