At least 53 reported killed as powerful earthquake hits Tibet

Chinese officials report that a strong earthquake has killed at least 53 people in Tibet and left many others injured and trapped.

The official Xinhua News Agency, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters, reported that 62 people were injured in the quake on Tuesday, as dozens of aftershocks shook the region of western China and the neighbouring state of Nepal.

Some 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to search for people in the rubble, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.

The quake struck at 9:05am local time (01:05 GMT) at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, which recorded a magnitude of 6.8. However, the United States Geological Survey measured its magnitude as 7.1.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake is considered strong and capable of causing severe damage. Multiple aftershocks were also reported, with the strongest measuring a magnitude of 4.4.

Xinhua reported that at least nine people were killed in three townships – Changsuo, Quluo and Cuoguo – in Shigatse’s surrounding Tingri county, where many buildings had collapsed, and local media report that dozens of people died.

media’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said images from the affected areas showed many collapsed buildings and homes.

“These are very remote villages in mountainous areas that are difficult to access and that difficulty will be increased by the fact that it is winter now, very cold and not very close to any major city,” Yu said.

She said the death toll was likely to rise.