Powerful earthquake hits Tibet killing 16 people, reports say
The quake hit a mountainous, sparsely-populated region in north-eastern Tibet.
A powerful earthquake has struck Tibet, killing 16 people, according to reports.
Chinese state media said a magnitude seven quake hit a mountainous area in Tibet, leaving at least 16 dead. Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management bureau, that the epicentre was in Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night. The county lies 400km north-east of Tibet's capital, Lhasa.
Authorities have declared an emergency and sent rescue teams to the area, where 32 more people were injured.
Local reports said more than 300 homes had collapsed in the affected area, and power there had been largely cut off.
Rockfalls have closed roads in the region, making it harder for crews to reach the affected areas.
Less than two months ago, Tibet and Nepal were hit by devastating floods and landslides triggered by a glacier collapse, which killed at least 1,400 people. Hundreds more are still missing.