PM Shehbaz offers condolences after earthquake in China’s Tibet kills 16, injures 65

ISLAMABAD/BEIJING: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed condolences over the deadly earthquake in China’s Tibet region, saying Pakistan stood in solidarity with the Chinese people and was ready to extend every possible support.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives and injuries caused by the devastating earthquake in Nagqu, Xizang Autonomous Region of China,” the prime minister said in a post on X.

On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, Shehbaz extended condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the people of China, particularly families who had lost loved ones.

He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the earthquake.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with its Chinese brothers and sisters in this difficult time and is ready to extend every possible support,” Shehbaz said.

The death toll from the magnitude-7 earthquake remained at 16 on Friday, while the number of injured rose to 65, according to local authorities.

The earthquake struck Nagqu, a sparsely populated high-altitude city in northern Tibet, and was the strongest to hit China since January 2024.

More than 300 police officers, including traffic and community police personnel, were sent to the epicentre to support rescue and emergency relief operations, according to the Nagqu police department.

Police said officers were inspecting damaged homes and helping residents move to safer locations.

Footage released by local authorities showed emergency personnel loading supplies onto trucks in the dark and inspecting damaged buildings and rubble with flashlights.

More than 12,000 people had been safely relocated following the earthquake, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Videos released earlier by local official media showed residents leaving their homes and gathering outdoors or sheltering inside vehicles parked along streets.

One resident said the strong tremor had woken them and that they could hear the house creaking during the earthquake.

The China Earthquake Networks Center said 413 aftershocks had been recorded following the main quake. Authorities were continuing to assess damage and carry out relief operations in the affected region.

The earthquake revived memories of major seismic disasters in western China. In 2010, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province, killing at least 2,698 people and leaving nearly 300 missing.