A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region at 09:05 am on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicentre was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, said a report issued by the CENC.

According to the centre’s rapid report catalogue, within 200 km of the epicentre, there have been a total of 29 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or above in the past five years, with the current earthquake being the largest.

There are seven villages located within a 5 km radius around the epicenter, it said.

The epicentre is 34 km from Dinggye county, 36 km from Dingri county, 164 km from Shigatse city and 379 km from the regional capital Lhasa.

House collapses were reported in the affected areas including Dramso, Chulho and Tsogo, and communication and electricity in some areas have been cut off. The region’s fire and rescue has launched emergency response, mobilizing 10 rescue teams with 337 personnel, 75 vehicles and four search-and-rescue dogs, CCTV reported.

Tashi Dundrub, head of Dingri county, told Xinhua that local authorities have deployed resources from transportation, water conservation and village administration departments to aid rescue efforts. Evacuations have also been organized to protect residents from potential aftershocks, Xinhua News Agency reported.