China has initiated extensive rescue operations in Tibet after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Thursday claimed at least 16 lives and caused serious damage to infrastructure. Reports indicate that hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the quake, and dozens of people have been injured.
Damage from the Earthquake
Images released from the scene show rescue teams searching with flashlights among over 300 homes that local sources say have collapsed in the earthquake. At the time of the quake, residents quickly exited restaurants, and goods fell from store shelves. One local resident stated that his family was asleep when the earthquake struck, forcing them to go outside without proper clothing.
Read more: Earthquake in Tibet, China Claims at Least 16 Lives
President's Directive
Xi Jinping, the President of China, stated that the earthquake has caused "significant casualties" in a high-altitude area under cold weather conditions. He emphasized that rescue and search efforts must be fully carried out and that all efforts should be made to treat the injured. He also called for the rapid dispatch of rescue equipment to the area.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located in a mountainous area about 190 kilometers northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometers northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa. The earthquake occurred at 10:33 PM (local time) and was reported to have a depth of about 10 kilometers. A local official in the city of Maru, which is at the epicenter of the quake, reported that the walls of his office have cracked and that power and telecommunications services in the county have been disrupted.
Baqing County has mobilized over 1,600 people for the rescue operation. Additionally, the urban fire and rescue force has dispatched 25 vehicles and 110 personnel to the area, while the armed guard of Nagqu has sent 225 officers and soldiers along with 18 vehicles to the region. By 4:30 AM, relief supplies including 1,000 prefabricated homes, 3,239 tents, four generators, and 1,000 flashlights have been sent to the area.
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