PLA ready to assist in Xizang disaster relief missions

The People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command Air Force has dispatched a drone to help survey the disaster area at the epicenter at Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region, where 53 people have been reported dead following an earthquake on Tuesday.

The air force also has transport planes, medical aircraft, helicopters and ground forces on standby, ready to follow orders and carry out support and disaster relief missions, according to PLA Western Theater Command.

At least 53 people were killed and 62 injured following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region at 09:05 am on Tuesday as of 12:30 pm, according to local authorities.

Nearly 1,000 houses were damaged, according to the Xizang earthquake relief headquarters.

The State Council Earthquake Relief Headquarters has also sent out a work group to guide disaster relief works, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

More than 1,500 rescuers from the local fire and rescue departments have been dispatched to carry out search and rescue missions.

The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, said a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Casualties were reported after the earthquake and house collapses were reported in Tonglai village, located in Changsuo township of Dingri.

According to the center's rapid report catalog, within 200 km of the epicenter, 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 epicenter is 34 km from Dinggye county, 36 km from Dingri county, 164 km from Shigatse city and 379 km from the regional capital Lhasa.