Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Tibet killing at least 16

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday evening. The quake killed at least 16 people and injured 32 others. It struck at 10:33 p.m. local time, or 4:33 p.m. Danish time. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported the casualties.

The epicenter was in a remote mountainous area of Nagqu. This area sits about 400 kilometers northeast of Lhasa. China Earthquake Networks Center recorded the quake at a depth of ten kilometers. Local officials reported 11 serious injuries and 21 minor injuries.

Several homes near the epicenter suffered cracks. State media videos showed residents taking shelter outdoors and in cars. Emergency teams and firefighters reached the area quickly. Monitoring stations recorded several aftershocks between magnitude 3.0 and 4.0.

Reuters noted this was China's strongest quake in over two years. Tibet faces frequent seismic activity due to its geology. Rescue operations and damage checks remain active in the affected areas. (Source: Copenhagen Post)