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A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.0 has hit Tibet, China, killing at least 16 people and leaving several others injured.
Details about the devastating Tibet quake
As reported by BBC News, Baqên County in the Nagqu region was shaken by the quake on Thursday night, around 10:33 p.m., with the US Geological Survey noting that it had a depth of 18 kilometres.
Nagqu is more than 185 kilometres north of Tibet's capital, Lhasa.
Emergency in Tibet after building collapses
Authorities have declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams to the affected area, where 32 others have also been injured.
Amid the chaotic situation in the mountainous region, power has been cut off, and around 339 homes have collapsed.
Moreover, rockfall has forced roads in the region to close, making it more difficult for crews to reach impacted high-altitude areas.
Powerful earthquake's history in Tibet
The region is prone to devastating seismic activity.
In 2023, a 6.2-magnitude quake killed more than 120 people in the nearby mountainous Gansu province of China.
Climate crisis affecting Tibet
Besides the shocking quake, Tibet and Nepal were also recently devastated by massive floods and landslides, which were triggered by a glacier collapse.
The devastating floods killed at least 1,400 people, with hundreds of people still reported missing.
Notably, Tibet, being one of the most tightly controlled regions in China, information has been heavily censored by authorities, with Chinese state media being the main source for updates during such disasters.
