Beijing (TDI): China has ordered an all-out search and rescue operation in Tibet after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed at least 16 people, injured dozens and caused hundreds of homes to collapse, prompting an emergency response in the mountainous region.
The earthquake struck on Thursday evening, with rescue teams working through the night to search damaged buildings and assist affected residents. China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that more than 300 houses had collapsed, while state broadcaster CCTV said 65 people had been injured.
Footage broadcast by Chinese media showed emergency personnel using flashlights to navigate damaged buildings, carrying injured people and inspecting structures with collapsed roofs. Residents fled their homes as the tremors shook buildings and sent items falling from supermarket shelves.
Several residents told local media they were afraid to return to their homes because of concerns about further damage. Some spent the night in their cars or set up tents along roadsides.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an urgent and comprehensive rescue effort, describing the earthquake as having caused “significant casualties” in a high-altitude area experiencing cold weather, according to Xinhua.
Xi directed authorities to prioritise search and rescue operations, provide medical treatment to the injured and mobilise assistance to minimise further casualties. He also called for relief supplies and emergency equipment to be delivered promptly to affected communities.
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The earthquake’s epicentre was in a mountainous area approximately 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and around 390 kilometres northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The tremor occurred at 10:33 pm local time on Thursday, at a relatively shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometres. Authorities have mobilised substantial emergency resources to support rescue and relief operations in the affected area.
Baqing County had deployed more than 1,600 people to assist with relief efforts, CCTV reported. The municipal fire and rescue brigade dispatched 25 vehicles and 110 personnel, while the Nagqu Armed Police Detachment sent 225 officers and soldiers along with 18 vehicles.
By 4:30 am on Friday, relief supplies delivered to the area included 1,000 prefabricated houses, 3,239 tents, four generators and 1,000 flashlights, according to CCTV.
The supplies are intended to support displaced residents and provide temporary shelter as authorities assess the damage and continue searching affected buildings.
Tibet’s difficult terrain, high altitude and cold conditions present additional challenges for rescue workers. Access to the region is also restricted for foreign journalists, meaning official Chinese statements and state media reports remain the principal sources of information about the disaster.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately expressed condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the bereaved families and the Chinese people following the earthquake.
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In a statement shared by his office, Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with China.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and injuries caused by the earthquake. He also conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to extend every possible support.
Both leaders prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and offered condolences to those affected by the disaster.
