Lhasa: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu city, in China's Xizang (Tibet) autonomous region, at 10.33 pm on Thursday, killing 16 people and injuring 32, the city's emergency management bureau said.
Eleven of the injured were in serious condition, while 21 sustained minor injuries, according to state media. More than 300 homes collapsed, and damage was still being assessed.
The epicentre lay in a mountainous area about 190 km east-northeast of Nagqu and roughly 390 km northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa, at a depth of about 10 km. Several aftershocks followed the main tremor.
The affected area sits at an altitude of about 4,800 metres, where overnight temperatures fall below freezing. That combination of altitude, cold and damaged roads has complicated rescue efforts. Residents spent the night in tents and cars, fearing further aftershocks.
President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue operation, medical treatment for the injured and the relocation of affected residents, while Premier Li Qiang called for urgent relief work. More than 12,000 people have been moved to safety, officials said.
Rescue teams, firefighters and police have reached the area, and the regional administration has activated its emergency response. The Tibetan plateau is highly prone to earthquakes, and local teams have experience of operating in difficult mountain terrain.
Authorities said relief supplies, including tents and winter clothing, were being moved into the region as the assessment continued. A separate 4.3-magnitude quake struck neighbouring Qinghai province about 40 minutes later. Local authorities have raised the emergency response level and activated the regional disaster response, deploying more than 347 firefighters and 300 police personnel for rescue. Supplies including about 3,000 tents, 1,000 prefabricated housing units, torches and winter clothing have been moved to the region. The quake is the strongest to hit China since January 2024. With roads and power disrupted, reaching some villages remains difficult.