Magnitude 7 Quake Flattens 339 Homes in Northern Tibet

At least sixteen people died in the northern part of China's Tibet region on Thursday evening. The ground shook with a force that officials are now calling the strongest event in the area for half a decade.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the tremor at 10:33 p.m. local time. It happened at a depth of 18 kilometres. The epicenter sat 191 kilometres east-northeast of the city of Nagqu. This location is in a high-altitude zone with very few residents. Nagqu itself is more than 300 kilometres north of Lhasa, the regional capital.

City officials say the destruction was concentrated around Nagqu. At least 339 homes have collapsed. Twenty livestock sheds also fell down. A total of 46 people were injured in the quake. Eleven of those individuals are in serious condition. The other 35 suffered minor injuries. Search and rescue teams are still working through the rubble.

Local authorities have mobilized a large response team. More than 1,600 people from the county are now on the ground helping with rescue efforts. Relief supplies have begun to arrive in the affected zone. Shipment details include 1,000 prefabricated housing units. Roughly 3,000 tents and folding beds are also en route. Flashlights and winter clothing are included in the aid packages.

Infrastructure damage has disrupted transport and communication. Xinhua reported that phone lines were down in parts of the region. Railway authorities stopped trains from passing through the affected area. Rockfalls blocked a section of National Highway 317. Officials closed that stretch of road. Only emergency and support vehicles are allowed through while crews clear the debris.

Weather could make the recovery work harder. Xinhua noted that intermittent snow is expected in the quake zone. This forecast covers the next three days. The cold and snow may slow down rescue teams and supply delivery. The region's remoteness adds to the challenge for aid workers.

CCTV, the national broadcaster, confirmed the scale of the event. It is the biggest earthquake to hit this specific region in five years. The combination of high altitude and sparse population makes the situation complex. Yet the response has been rapid. Local leaders are focused on getting shelters up before the weather worsens. The death toll could rise as teams reach more remote areas.