Beijing, October 23, 2026 (Nosheen): The number of people injured in a magnitude 7 earthquake that struck China’s southwestern Tibet region has risen to 65, while the death toll remains at 16, local authorities said on Friday. The earthquake, whose epicentre was in Nagqu, a sparsely populated, high-altitude city in northern Tibet, is the strongest to hit China since January 2024. More than 300 police officers, including traffic and community police personnel, have been deployed to the affected area to carry out rescue and emergency relief operations, according to the Nagqu police department. Authorities said officers were inspecting damaged homes and helping residents relocate to safer locations. More than 12,000 people have been safely relocated, state media outlet Xinhua reported. Videos released by local media showed residents leaving their homes and seeking shelter outdoors or in vehicles parked along the streets. Some residents reported being awakened by the powerful tremor and hearing their houses creak during the earthquake. The China Earthquake Networks Center said 413 aftershocks had been recorded following the main quake. Rescue teams and emergency personnel continue to respond to the disaster as authorities assess the damage and provide assistance to affected residents. In 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province, killing at least 2,698 people and leaving nearly 300 missing.