Authorities warn aftershocks, secondary disasters following Xizang quake

Authorities in Nagchu city, Xizang autonomous region, warned at a Friday news conference that aftershocks and secondary disasters remain major risks following a magnitude-7.0 earthquake in Drachen county on Thursday night.

The quake had killed 16 people and injured 76, said Dondrub, mayor of Nagchu.

The affected area averages nearly 4,800 meters in elevation, according to Meng Linghe, Drachen's Party secretary. Landslides, slope collapses, and falling rocks are the main secondary geological hazards. Low nighttime temperatures, scattered snow showers, and black ice on shaded high-altitude roads pose risks to rescue vehicles.

Dondrub said inspections have covered 12 roads spanning more than 1,700 kilometers, 201 bridges, and 324 culverts. Officials identified 11 hazards and cleared rockfalls at seven road locations.

Earthquake, meteorological, and emergency management departments are consulting and issuing aftershock and weather warnings, while police and transport authorities keep emergency routes open.

Round-the-clock monitoring and emergency repairs cover mountain slopes, reservoirs, power stations, river channels, unsafe buildings, and telecommunications base stations. Authorities are inspecting mountain slopes and roads alongside rescue teams, Meng said. Dangerous areas will be cordoned off, and search operations will be kept away from steep slopes.

Authorities will inspect geological hazard sites and vulnerable infrastructure hourly and continue issuing updated risk alerts, Dondrub said.