Earthquake kills at least 30 in Tibet

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-06 18:15

At least 30 people were killed in a 6.6-magnitude earthquake which jolted a county under Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, on Monday, the local government said.

The victims were found in Gedar township of Damxung County, the epicenter. More people were still buried in debris and many houses collapsed, said the Tibet Autonomous Region Government.

Traffic and telecommunication were cut off in Gedar. Soldiers and medical staff were rushing to the site.

Deaths and injuries were also reported in a neighboring county, but the exact number of casualties was yet to be verified.

An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Damxung County in Lhasa at 4:30 p.m. Monday, local authorities said.

The epicenter was at 29.8 degrees north and 90.3 degrees east, 82 km from Lhasa, according to the State Seismological Bureau (SSB).

Tremors were felt in Lhasa, but no major damages were found in buildings or historical sites there, including the famed Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple.

The Qinghai-Tibet railway and Lhasa airport remained in normal services.