Tibet Earthquake Kills 16 and Injures 54

Istanbul (ANTARA) – At least 16 people were killed and 54 others injured after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County, Nagqu, in the Xizang autonomous region, better known as Tibet, China, on Thursday night, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a comprehensive search and rescue operation for missing residents and immediate medical care for the injured.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said on Friday that the government had raised its national earthquake emergency response from Level IV to Level III.

The government also sent a working team to the affected area to direct and assist rescue and disaster relief efforts.

China’s National Fire and Rescue Administration deployed 350 personnel and 83 vehicles to the affected area.

By 6.30am local time (5.30am in Jakarta), 120 personnel and 27 vehicles had arrived at the site. The remaining personnel and vehicles were still on their way.

Chinese authorities also deployed various emergency supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated houses, 3,239 tents, 2,821 folding beds and 4,280 blankets, Xinhua reported.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, about 183 kilometres from Nagqu.

The USGS issued a yellow alert for potential casualties caused by the shaking. It also issued an orange alert for economic losses, warning of possible significant damage with widespread impact.

“Economic losses are estimated to be less than one per cent of China’s GDP. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national-level response,” the USGS said.

The USGS also noted that people in the area generally live in buildings that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking.