Authorities in Tibet reported 16 deaths and 76 injuries on October 23 as relief operations expanded after a magnitude 7 earthquake. Xinhua, citing a Nagqu government briefing, said 12,489 people had been relocated. Officials reported no people unaccounted for after three rounds of household searches, while treatment and shelter work continued.
The quake struck Baqing county in Nagqu at about 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22. China's emergency management ministry, citing the national earthquake network, placed its depth at 10 kilometres and the average elevation near the epicentre at about 4,800 metres. The sparsely populated, high-altitude setting adds to the difficulty of emergency operations.
The updated official assessment listed 339 households with collapsed or damaged homes and 20 damaged livestock sheds. Taiwan's Central News Agency also reported the 16 deaths and 76 injuries, citing Chinese official reporting. Earlier Reuters coverage had put injuries at 65; the afternoon briefing raised that figure without changing the reported death toll.
Xinhua said more than 5,000 personnel were deployed for rescue, medical assistance, shelter, supplies and hazard removal. Eighteen accommodation sites were ready, with others under construction. The emergency management ministry reported deliveries including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,239 tents and 2,821 folding beds, alongside bedding, winter clothing and lighting equipment.
President Xi Jinping called for searches, treatment and proper accommodation, according to an official statement carried by Xinhua. He urged monitoring of weather and seismic activity because of the cold, high-altitude conditions and the risk of further disasters. Premier Li Qiang also called for stronger monitoring and verification of the damage as emergency teams worked in the affected area.
China's National Development and Reform Commission announced 30 million yuan in central investment for emergency restoration of infrastructure and public services. Local authorities said the next priorities were medical care, accommodation and preventing secondary disasters. Their report of no missing people followed completed searches; it did not mean the recovery operation was over.
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