Powerful earthquake hits Tibet killing 16 people, reports say

For context, a magnitude seven earthquake has hit a mountainous region in Tibet, killing at least 16 individuals, according to Chinese state media reports.

Key points

• The centre of the quake hit Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night, Xinhua documented, citing the local emergency management bureau.
• While power in the region had been mostly cut off, more than 300 homes had collapsed in the affected area, local reports remarked.
• Authorities have declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams to the affected area, where 32 others have additionally been injured.
• Tibet and Nepal were devastated by massive floods and landslides less than two months ago, unleashed by a glacier collapse.
• Rockfall has forced roads in the region to close, making it more tough for crews to access affected areas.

Notably, the centre of the quake hit Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night, Xinhua documented, citing the local emergency management bureau. The county is 400km north-east of Tibet's capital, Lhasa.

Tibet and Nepal were devastated by massive floods and landslides less than two months ago, unleashed by a glacier collapse. It killed at least 1, 400 individuals. Hundreds of others are still documented missing.

Taken together, the developments around powerful earthquake hits Tibet killing 16 people, reports say point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.