Rescue operations, assessments underway following deadly earthquake in Xizang

A team of firefighters are conducting intensive search and rescue operations and large-scale surveys and assessments of the disaster site at the epicenter of a deadly earthquake that struck southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region Tuesday morning.

A total of 95 people had been confirmed dead and 130 others injured as of 15:00 Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in the southern part of the region at 09:05.

The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Multiple aftershocks have been recorded, with the strongest measuring 4.4 magnitude.

Mima Ciren, a professional technical officer of the Xigaze branch with the Xizang Forest Fire Brigade, offered an update on the brigade's response work in a self-filmed video.

"I am currently in Cuoguo Township, where a minor road clearing operation has been conducted. In Cuoguo Township's Jiding Village, we carried out a rescue operation at 12:40 for an individual who was trapped. At present, we are conducting large-scale surveys and assessments of the disaster site," the responder said.

The team will check approximately seven to eight villages to continue rescue operations and assess the property damage of affected residents.

"Our next priority is to visit each village, as the affected area is quite extensive. We aim to understand the disaster situation in each village and locate trapped individuals to provide preliminary reports for the larger rescue teams," Mima said.

Official data shows that Dingri County has a population of over 60,000 people, and approximately 6,900 people live within a 20-km radius of the epicenter. A preliminary survey revealed that more than 1,000 houses had sustained varying degrees of damage. Some of these houses have been reduced to rubble.

All-out efforts are underway to search and rescue survivors of the quake.

Some 22,000 disaster relief items, including cotton tents, cotton coats, quilts and folding beds, together with special relief materials for high-altitude and frigid areas, have been dispatched by central authorities to the quake-hit region.

Iran's Organization for Renovation, Development, and Equipment of Schools, reported on Sunday that a total of 1,486 schools and educational units were demolished or damaged in the military actions launched by the United States and Israel against the country.

Hamidreza Khan Mohammadi, head of the organization, said that attacks have struck 153 districts across 22 provinces in Iran, with 11 schools completely destroyed, while 1,489 schools and educational facilities -- including 1,214 schools and 275 educational spaces -- sustained partial or total damage.

To date, 969 of these facilities have been repaired and returned to the educational system, he added.