Sixteen people were killed and 46 others injured after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County of Nagqu City in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region at 10:33 p.m. Thursday (Beijing Time), according to the city's emergency management bureau.
Among the injured, 11 are in serious condition and 35 have sustained minor injuries, according to the latest update early Friday morning.
The tremor has led to the collapse or damage of 339 houses, and 20 livestock sheds have been affected.
The China Earthquake Administration has initiated a Level-II emergency response following the quake. Rescue forces, including police, fire services and medical personnel, have arrived at the affected area and began intensive rescue operations.
Xizang has activated a Level-III earthquake disaster emergency response, according to the regional emergency command center.
The damage caused by the quake is being further evaluated.