Earthquake in Northern Tibet Kills 16, Destroys Hundreds of Homes

A magnitude 7 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 46 others, according to official media. The worst damage was in Nagqu, where hundreds of homes collapsed. The Nagqu media office said 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds had fallen, with 11 people in serious condition and 35 with minor injuries. Search and rescue operations continued as more than 1,600 local residents joined the effort. Relief supplies including 1,000 prefabricated homes, 3,000 tents, and winter clothing arrived in the region.

Xinhua reported communication was down in part of the region. Local railway officials stopped trains from passing through the affected area. The quake caused rockfalls, prompting the closure of a section of National Highway 317. Only emergency and official vehicles are allowed through as crews clear debris. Intermittent snow is expected in the quake zone for the next three days.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 18 kilometres. Its epicentre was 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu. CCTV described the event as the biggest earthquake in the region in the past five years.

Nagqu lies more than 300 kilometres north of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. Local authorities took emergency action to stop trains from passing through the affected area. Search and rescue operations are still under way as conditions may complicate the work ahead.