Nagqu officials report 339 collapsed structures after magnitude 7 tremor

At least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed in northern Tibet following a magnitude 7 earthquake on Thursday evening. The tremor killed at least 16 people and injured 46 others, according to the Nagqu media office. The worst destruction occurred around the regional city of Nagqu, which sits more than 300 kilometres north of Lhasa.

Eleven of the injured are in serious condition, while 35 have minor injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the event at 10:33 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu at a depth of 18 kilometres. The area is sparsely populated and sits at high altitude.

Local authorities have mobilized more than 1,600 workers from the county to assist with search and rescue. Relief supplies have arrived at the site. These include 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing. Communication lines are down in parts of the region, according to Xinhua. Local railway authorities stopped trains from passing through the affected area.

Rockfalls triggered by the quake have closed a section of National Highway 317. Only emergency, rescue, and official support vehicles are permitted through the closure. Crews are currently clearing debris from the roadway. Intermittent snow is expected across the quake zone over the next three days.

China's national broadcaster CCTV identified this as the largest earthquake in the region in five years. The Nagqu media office cited city government officials for the structural damage figures. Rescue operations remained active as of the latest reports.