Rescue crews in Tibet face snowfall after major earthquake
A magnitude 7.0 quake destroyed 339 homes and killed at least 16 people, forcing the closure of key transport routes in the Nagqu region.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Rescue operations in northern China are being hampered by falling snow following a powerful earthquake that struck the Nagqu area on Thursday. A magnitude 7.0 tremor hit at 10:33 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which placed the epicenter 191 kilometers east-northeast of the city. The quake occurred at a depth of 18 kilometers, sending shockwaves through a sparsely populated, high-altitude region.
Local authorities reported that at least 16 people died and 46 were injured in the initial hours. Of the injured, 11 remain in serious condition while 35 sustained minor wounds. The Nagqu media office stated that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. More than 1,600 workers from the local county have been deployed to the site, where search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
Relief logistics are moving into the affected zone despite logistical hurdles. Supplies delivered to the area include 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents and folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing. However, Xinhua, China's official news agency, reported that communication lines are down in parts of the region. Local railway authorities halted train traffic through the area as a precautionary measure.
Transport networks on the ground have also been disrupted. Rockfalls triggered by the seismic event forced officials to close a section of National Highway 317. Xinhua noted that only emergency, rescue, and official support vehicles are currently permitted to pass while crews clear the debris. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the event as the strongest in the area in recent years, with China's national broadcaster CCTV describing it as the largest earthquake in the region in five years.
Weather patterns are expected to intensify the difficulty of the recovery. Xinhua forecast intermittent snow across the quake zone for the next three days. Nagqu is located more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The combination of cold temperatures and ongoing structural damage poses a direct challenge to the teams working to secure the area and assist survivors.
