A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet’s Nagqu City, killing 16 people. The tremor hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, roughly 183 kilometres away from Nagqu, according to data from the US Geological Survey.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out search and rescue efforts for missing individuals. He also called for prompt medical treatment for the injured.
The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management upgraded the national earthquake emergency response from Level IV to Level III on Friday. A specialized work team was dispatched directly to the region to guide local relief operations.
China’s National Fire and Rescue Force deployed 350 rescuers and 83 vehicles to the disaster zone. Officials confirmed that 120 rescuers and 27 vehicles reached the area by 6.30 am, while the remaining personnel continued on their journey.
Authorities mobilized essential relief supplies to support displaced residents. State media reports show these provisions included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,239 tents, 2,821 folding beds and 4,280 quilts.
The US Geological Survey issued a yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. The warning indicated that casualties were entirely possible after the violent tremor.
The agency also issued an orange alert for potential economic losses. This warning noted that significant damage was likely and the overall impact could be widespread.
"Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of China," the US Geological Survey said. "Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response."
The agency added that local residents in the affected region typically reside in buildings and structures that are particularly vulnerable to earthquake shaking.
