China deploys rescue efforts after 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Xizang

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Batang County in Nagqu, located in the Xizang Autonomous Region of southwest China, at 10:33 p.m. on Thursday. The tremor has resulted in at least 16 deaths and dozens of injuries, with reports indicating between 65 and 76 people wounded.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered maximum efforts in rescue operations, emphasizing the need to search for missing persons, provide urgent medical treatment, and minimize human loss. He specifically noted the challenges posed by the high altitude and low temperatures in the affected area, calling for close monitoring of seismic activity and weather to prevent secondary disasters.

In response, the Chinese Red Cross Society has dispatched additional relief supplies, including emergency toilets, food, warming packs, and hygiene kits. The People's Liberation Army's Western Theater Command is coordinating land and air forces to assess damage and conduct search and rescue operations. Military drones are being utilized to survey villages within a 20-kilometer radius of the epicenter. Local authorities have worked to relocate approximately 500 affected residents, and as of Friday evening, no missing persons had been reported.