INDIA TODAY - At least 16 people were killed and 76 injured after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, prompting the evacuation of more than 12,000 residents, Press Trust of India reported, citing authorities on Friday.
Search, rescue and relief operations are underway, while funds and supplies have been sent to the affected area. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out search for missing people and prompt medical treatment for those injured.
The shallow earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City at a depth of less than 10 kilometres at around 10.33 pm local time on Thursday. So far, 12,489 residents have been evacuated and efforts are underway to resettle those affected, state-run Xinhua news agency reported from Lhasa, the regional capital.
China has allocated 50 million yuan, or about USD 7.5 million, in emergency disaster relief funds and set aside another 30 million yuan for recovery efforts, according to Xinhua. More than 330 houses collapsed or were damaged, and authorities are assessing the extent of the destruction.
A detailed breakdown of the 76 injured, including the number of people seriously hurt, was not immediately available, PTI reported.
Passenger trains on the affected section of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway resumed operations at reduced speeds on Friday morning, China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co Ltd said. State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co Ltd said electricity had been restored to 1,937 households in the earthquake-hit area of Baqen County by 10 am local time on Friday.
Relief supplies sent by authorities have reached the affected area. They include 1,000 sets of prefabricated houses, 3,239 tents, 2,821 folding beds and 4,280 quilts, along with other essential items, according to Xinhua.
The area around the epicentre has an average altitude of more than 4,800 metres. Temperatures are expected to fall to minus nine degrees Celsius over the next three days, while intermittent snowfall is forecast on Saturday in three townships near the epicentre, local weather authorities said.
Xi called for every effort to minimise casualties and directed authorities to closely monitor earthquake activity and weather conditions to prevent further disasters because of the high altitude and low temperatures. He also called for proper accommodation for affected residents, swift repairs to damaged infrastructure and measures to protect lives and property. Premier Li Qiang called for effective disaster prevention and response efforts.
The Tibetan Plateau is prone to powerful earthquakes because it lies in a region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. Rescue and relief work continues after the earthquake left at least 16 people dead, injured 76 and forced 12,489 residents to leave their homes.