Magnitude-7 earthquake hits China’s Tibet, killing at least 16 and 339 houses collapse

At least 16 people have been killed by a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet, an autonomous region of China. Dozens more were injured. The quake struck a high mountainous area on Thursday night, according to the state news agency Xinhua, citing local authorities.

The earthquake hit at 10:33 pm Chinese local time (a little after 8:30 pm in Bangladesh). The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicentre was about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city and about 390 kilometres northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa. Xinhua reported that the epicentre was in Maru township, Baqen county, Nagqu. The quake’s depth was about 10 kilometres. Tremors were also felt in the cities of Qamdo and Nyingchi.

Nagqu’s emergency management bureau said 11 of the injured were in serious condition, while the other 21 had minor injuries. Some media outlets, however, have reported that the number of injured exceeds 50. According to local authorities, at least 339 houses and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. Assessment of the full extent of the damage is ongoing.

Power supply has been cut across a wide area following the quake. Telecommunications services were also disrupted in the Baqen county seat. Rocks and soil sliding down from the mountains have blocked several roads, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach high and remote areas. Police and fire personnel are putting up tents to shelter displaced residents in the affected area. Authorities have activated a level-II emergency disaster response in the area.

According to the USGS, the area is very sparsely populated, and its high elevation means temperatures there are also severe. During the quake, many residents left their homes and took shelter in the open or in cars. The deputy head of Maru township said cracks appeared in the walls of their office as well.

Citing Chinese media, reports say this is among the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in recent years. In January last year, an earthquake in Tibet’s Tingri county killed at least 126 people. Less than two months ago, flash floods and landslides in the Tibet-Nepal border region also caused deaths and devastated several communities.