A massive search and rescue operation involving more than 5,000 personnel across all levels of government is in full swing after a powerful earthquake struck Baqen County of the city of Nagqu in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, local authorities said on Friday.
Sixteen people were killed and 76 others were injured after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Baqen County at 22:33 local time (1433 GMT) on Thursday, according to a press conference held by the information office of the Nagqu municipal government.
"Over 5,000 rescue personnel from the regional, municipal, and county levels have been organized into specialized teams responsible for search and rescue, medical treatment, temporary shelter, and the supply of essential goods. Power and communications support teams have also been deployed, with search and rescue personnel now stationed in all priority townships and key disaster-stricken areas," said Dondrup, mayor of Nagqu City.
An emergency command headquarters has been established on the front lines to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
"Local authorities have launched 24-hour monitoring and emergency repairs across critical areas, including hillsides, reservoirs, power stations, rivers, structurally unsafe buildings, and telecommunications base stations. Damaged communication and power facilities in the earthquake-affected zone are gradually being restored," Dondrup said. Earthquake monitoring, meteorological and emergency management departments, meanwhile, are coordinating with one another closely to issue timely warnings of aftershocks and adverse weather conditions.
Public security and transport authorities are working at full capacity to keep lifeline routes for search and rescue operations clear. They have inspected 12 roads spanning over 1,700 kilometers, as well as 201 bridges and 324 culverts, identifying 11 potential hazards and clearing rockfall off seven road sections.
Massive search-rescue operation underway in earthquake-hit Nagqu, Xizang
