1,600 workers clear Nagqu debris

Rescue crews deployed 1,600 workers to the site of a magnitude 7 earthquake that struck northern Tibet on Thursday evening. The tremor killed at least 16 people and injured 46 others, according to official reports.

Local authorities in Nagqu confirmed that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. Of the injured, 11 remain in serious condition while 35 suffered minor wounds. Search and rescue operations continued as of Friday.

Relief supplies arrived in the region to support the displaced population. The delivery included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, roughly 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing. These items aim to provide immediate shelter for families who lost their structures.

The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu. The quake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 18 kilometers. Nagqu sits more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the regional capital. CCTV described the event as the largest earthquake in the area in five years.

Infrastructure disruptions followed the initial shock. Local railway authorities halted train traffic through the affected zone. Officials closed a section of National Highway 317 due to rockfalls, allowing only emergency and support vehicles to pass while crews clear debris. Xinhua reported that communication lines were down in parts of the region. Intermittent snow is expected over the next three days, adding to the challenges for ground crews.