Earthquake strikes China’s Tibet region, killing 9 people, state media reports

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck western China’s Tibet autonomous region on Tuesday morning, killing nine people, with reports of people trapped under the rubble.

The quake hit Tingri county in Xigaze prefecture at 9.05am, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Local authorities dispatched more than 300 rescuers and medical staff, the broadcaster reported.

Villages in the region reported that most houses had collapsed and people were trapped, CCTV said, citing authorities.

Tingri county authorities told state news agency Xinhua that they had formed a local rescue party consisting of cadres from transport, water conservancy, housing departments, as well as village officials.

They were also organising evacuations in case of aftershocks, Xinhua reported.