A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet, China, on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32. The quake, which hit at 10:33 pm local time, caused the collapse of hundreds of homes in the northern regional city of Nagqu. Local medics reported the casualties, with 11 of the injured in serious condition.
Search and rescue teams are still working in the affected area, where at least 339 homes were destroyed. The epicenter was located in a mountainous region about 190 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometers northeast of Lhasa. The US Geological Survey confirmed the quake’s location and magnitude.
The earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Surveillance camera footage showed people evacuating buildings as the quake hit. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate survivors and assess the full extent of the damage.
This is the second major earthquake to hit Tibet this year. In May, a 6.4-magnitude quake struck the same region, killing 12 people. The latest quake has raised concerns about the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity. Officials are monitoring the situation closely and have not yet issued an official statement on the number of casualties or the full scale of the damage.
