A magnitude 7 earthquake has hit a mountainous region in Tibet killing at least 16 people, according to Chinese state media More than 300 homes have reportedly collapsed and power has largely been cut off to the region
Authorities have declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams to the area, where 54 people have been injured
State media is often the only source of information on Tibet, which is tightly controlled by China since it was annexed in the 1950s
The centre of the quake hit Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night, Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management bureau
The county is 400km north-east of Tibet's capital, Lhasa
Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to news of the earthquake, ordering a mass rescue operation.
In a statement shared by state media, President Xi was quoted saying: "all-out efforts must be made to search for and rescue people trapped by the earthquake, provide medical treatment for the injured and minimise casualties".
"Xi stressed that the affected area is at a high altitude and temperatures are cold," the statement continued.
"He also called for the urgent deployment of emergency rescue supplies, the proper relocation and resettlement of affected residents, the repair of damaged infrastructure and effective measures to safeguard people’s lives and property."
