Key facts
- 16 people killed, 54 injured.
- Over 339 houses collapsed.
- Xi Jinping ordered urgent relief efforts.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet autonomous region on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54, according to state media. The earthquake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located in a mountainous area about 390 kilometers northeast of Lhasa. Over 339 houses collapsed, and power and telecommunications services were disrupted. President Xi Jinping on Friday morning ordered that all efforts focus on search and rescue for survivors and treating the injured, emphasizing the need to monitor seismic activity and weather changes in the high-altitude, cold region to prevent secondary disasters. More than 1,600 personnel have been deployed for rescue operations, with supplies including prefabricated housing units, tents, and winter clothing sent to the affected area. Railway services through the region have been suspended, and a section of National Highway 317 has been closed to the public, allowing only emergency vehicles.