Magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Tibet kills 16, collapses hundreds of homes

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in the Nagqu area of China's Tibet region at 10:33 p.m. local time Thursday, according to China's earthquake center and the US Geological Survey. USGS placed the epicenter 191 km east-northeast of Nagqu at a depth of 18 km and issued an orange alert for shaking damage.

Local officials said 16 people were killed, and Xinhua reported 76 injured as of 10 a.m. Friday local time. Nagqu officials told state media at least 339 homes collapsed, and power and phone service were cut in the county seat. China activated emergency responses and sent rescue teams, with snow expected in the area.

Why it matters: State broadcaster CCTV called it the region's strongest quake in five years. The epicenter is in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area, where cold weather complicates sheltering displaced residents.