At least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after a magnitude-seven earthquake struck China’s south-western region of Tibet, collapsing hundreds of homes.

The number of injured was initially estimated at 32, including 11 in a serious condition, but later revised to 65.

The ‌quake, late on Thursday night, is the strongest to hit China since January 2024. Its epicentre was in Nagqu, a sparsely populated, high-altitude city in northern Tibet.

At least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, the Nagqu media office reported, and search and rescue efforts are continuing.

Videos released by local official media showed people leaving their homes and seeking shelter outside or in their cars parked on the street.

One resident reported being awakened by the strong quake and hearing the house squeaking during the tremor.

The China Earthquake Networks Centre said in a post that 413 aftershocks had been recorded.

More than 300 police officers including traffic and community police personnel were sent to the epicentre to ⁠carry out rescue and emergency relief work, the Nagqu police department said on messaging app WeChat early on Friday.

Officers sent to the region checked for damage to homes and helped people relocate to safer locations, they added.

A video the police posted on TikTok sister app Douyin showed officers packing supplies in a truck in the dark and inspecting a building and rubble with flashlights.

More than 12,000 people have been safely relocated, state media outlet Xinhua reported on Friday.

In 2010, a magnitude 7.1 tremor struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province, killing at least 2698 people ⁠and leaving nearly 300 people missing.

–with Reuters / AP