Nagqu quake claims 16 lives as 339 homes collapse

China's Tibet region has long relied on mountain passes for trade and travel. That reliance was tested Thursday evening when a magnitude 7 earthquake killed at least 16 people and injured 46 others.

The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu, a city situated in a sparsely populated, high-altitude zone. The tremor occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time with a depth of 18 kilometers. Local media reported the worst structural damage centered around Nagqu, where authorities confirmed that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. Eleven of the injured remain in serious condition.

Over 1,600 local county personnel have joined the search and rescue operations. Logistics teams delivered 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing to the affected area. Xinhua reported that communication lines remain down in parts of the region. Railway authorities halted train traffic through the zone, while rockfalls forced the closure of a section of National Highway 317. Currently, only emergency and official support vehicles are permitted to pass while crews clear the debris.

CCTV identified this as the largest earthquake to hit the area in five years. Weather forecasts indicate intermittent snow will fall across the quake zone over the next three days, a condition that may complicate ongoing rescue efforts.

The event occurred 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the regional capital. Rescue teams continue to operate in the area as they assess remaining structures and manage the influx of relief supplies.