The number of people injured in a magnitude 7 earthquake in China’s southwestern region of Tibet has risen to 76, while the death toll remains at 16.
Local government authorities announced the figures at a press conference on Friday.
The earthquake struck Nagqu, a high-altitude city in northern Tibet, a sparsely populated region. It is the strongest earthquake to hit China since January 2024.
Local officials warned that homes damaged during the main earthquake could collapse during aftershocks. They said buildings with cracks or those that have begun leaning remain at risk.
Communication and power supplies are gradually being restored, the officials added.
More than 300 police officers, including traffic and community police personnel, have been deployed to the epicentre to support rescue and emergency relief operations, the Nagqu police department said in a post on WeChat on Friday.
The officers inspected homes for damage and helped residents move to safer locations, the department said.
A video posted by the police on Douyin, TikTok’s sister app, showed officers loading supplies into a truck in the dark. Other footage showed officers inspecting a building and rubble with flashlights.
More than 12,000 people have been safely relocated, state media outlet Xinhua reported.
Videos released earlier by local official media showed residents leaving their homes and seeking shelter outdoors or inside cars parked along streets.
One resident said the strong tremor woke them up and caused their house to creak.
The China Earthquake Networks Center said 413 aftershocks had been recorded.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province in 2010, killing at least 2,698 people and leaving nearly 300 others missing.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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