Rescue Operations Underway After 7.0-Magnitude Quake Causes Widespread Damage in Tibet

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck China's Tibet region late Thursday evening, leaving at least 16 people dead and 32 others injured, according to state media reports.
 

The earthquake caused widespread destruction in Nagqu, a city in northern Tibet, where hundreds of houses collapsed following the strong tremors. Authorities have launched large-scale rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
 

Officials said that at least 339 homes were destroyed in the earthquake. Among the injured, 11 people are reported to be in serious condition, while the remaining 21 sustained minor injuries.
 

Emergency response teams, including police and fire department personnel, have been deployed to the disaster-hit region. Rescue workers are continuing search and relief efforts while temporary shelters are being set up for residents who have been displaced by the disaster. Tents are being installed to provide immediate accommodation to affected families.
 

According to China's state broadcaster CCTV, the earthquake was the largest and most powerful to hit the region in the past five years.
 

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck at 10:33 pm local time. The epicentre was located approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu in a sparsely populated and mountainous area of northern Tibet. The quake originated at a depth of 18 kilometres below the Earth's surface.
 

Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage, and rescue teams remain on the ground to assist affected communities. Additional updates are expected as emergency operations progress.
 

The latest earthquake once again highlights the seismic vulnerability of the Tibetan plateau, a region frequently affected by strong earthquakes due to its geological setting.