A powerful earthquake has struck the southwestern region of Tibet, causing significant damage and loss of life. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7, occurred at around 10:33 p.m. on Thursday and was felt in the local area.
What happened
According to state news agency Xinhua, at least 16 people were killed and 32 others were injured in the earthquake, with 11 of the injured in serious condition. Local authorities reported that some houses in villages closest to the epicenter showed cracks, and at least two people were injured in a village near the epicenter.
The earthquake was centered in a sparsely populated, high-altitude county in Nagqu, northern Tibet, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The average elevation in the area is approximately 4,864 meters, making it a challenging region for rescue efforts.
Following the earthquake, a string of smaller tremors with magnitudes of around 3 and 4 were recorded in surrounding regions. The earthquake was clearly felt in the local area, with residents reporting being awakened by the strong quake and hearing their houses squeak in the tremor.
