China: 53 dead and 62 injured in 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Xizang
Fifty-three people were killed and 62 others injured after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook Dingri County in Xigaze, Xizang Autonomous Region at 9:05 a.m. (Beijing time) on Tuesday (January 7), according to the Regional disaster relief center.
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| Rescue workers responding to the earthquake in the Xizang autonomous region, southwest China, on January 7. |
| Photo : Xinhua/VNA/CVN |
More than 1,000 houses suffered more or less significant damage.
After the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration launched a Level II emergency response and sent a work team to the site to participate in the rescue operations. The Xizang Autonomous Region also issued a Level II emergency response to the earthquake.
Central authorities have sent some 22,000 relief items, including tents and cotton coats, quilts and folding beds, as well as special relief materials for high-altitude and freezing areas.
More than 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers were also sent to the site.
The epicenter was located at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km, said a report published by the China Earthquake Network Center.
The epicenter is located in the town of Tsogo in Dingri district, which has a population of around 6,900 people within a 20 km radius. There are 27 villages in this area. According to official data, the Dingri district has more than 61,000 inhabitants.
Xinhua/VNA/CVN
