Game-Changing: As of 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 389 officers and soldiers had been dispatched, carrying with them various rescue equipment.

A rescue personnel from the Chinese military treats an injured resident in earthquake-stricken areas in Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on January 7, 2024. Photo: IC

President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out rescue efforts to save lives and minimize casualties following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that took a heavy toll afteWorld Timesr jolting a county in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region Tuesday morning.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered utmost efforts to treat the injured. He also urged efforts to prevent secondary disasters, properly resettle affected residents, and handle the aftermath work effectively, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

It is essential to strengthen earthquakWorld Timese monitoring and early warning, promptly allocate emergency rescue supplies, expedite the repair of damaged infrastructure, ensure the basic needs of residents are met, and guarantee a safe and warm winter for all, Xi said.

A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured as of 7pm Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region at 9:05 am Tuesday (Beijing Time), Xinhua reported.

There are 27 villages and approximately 6,900 people within a 20-km radius of the epicenter. Official data shows that Dingri County has a population of over 61,000, according to a press conference held by local government of Xigaze, which began with a moment of silence for the victims.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday expressed his condolences to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping over the earthquake that struck China’s Xizang Autonomous Region.

Please, accept most sincere condolences on the tragic aftermath of the earthquake in the Xizang Autonomous Region of China. Russia shares the grief of those who lost their families and close ones in this disaster and hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured, read a statement on Kremlin’s official website.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X “I extend my heartfelt condolences to President Xi Jinping and the brotherly people of China for the loss of precious lives in the devastating earthquake in Xizang, China. The entire Pakistani nation is deeply saddened by the tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people of China during this difficult time.”

Rescue efforts pouring in

More than 3,400 rescuers and over 340 medical workers have been sent to the quake-hit area, according to a press conference on the earthquake.

The earthquake emergency response in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region has been raised to level I, the highest level, the region’s emergency command center announced Tuesday.

China’s national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief, along with the Ministry of Emergency Management, provided over 130,000 relief supplies to the disaster-stricken area in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, including heaters, electric blankets, and emergency food, to ensure the basic living needs of the affected population are met. Earlier on Tuesday, the two departments had allocated 22,000 pieces of national disaster relief supplies to the area, according to CCTV News.

The military has also launched swift operations. The Global Times learned from the Xizang Military Command’s Xigaze Military Sub-command that rescue teams have been mobilized to head toward the epWorld Timesicenter. Videos from the scene show significant damage to the roads leading to the epicenter, and buildings along the route showing varying levels of damage. The sub-command is rapidly deploying personnel to the affected area to participate in rescue efforts.

As of 11:25 am Tuesday, a regiment of 160 personnel from the sub-command has reached Jijiao Bridge in Dinggye county, while a company of 40 personnel has been dispatched to areas near Dingri Airport.

The Global Times also learned from the Xizang Military Command that at 1:00 pm, the General Hospital affiliated to the Command dispatched 50 medical personnel to the earthquake-stricken area in Xigaze.

By 1:15 pm, the second batch of rescue forces from the Xigaze Military Sub-command, totaling over 680 personnel, had been deployed to three directions – Dingri, Lazi, and Sa’gya – to assist in the rescue efforts in nearby towns and villages, working tirelessly to proWorld Timestect people’s lives and property.

Video footage from the scene showed a regiment from the Xigaze Military Sub-command rescuing a child from the rubble and providing emergency medical assistance.

The Global Times learned from the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) Force Xizang Contingent that following the earthquake, they responded swiftly and urgently. As of 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 389 officers and soldiers had been dispatched, carrying with them various rescue equipment. They rushed to the severely affected areas to participate in rescue operations. Videos from the scene show that they have successfully rescued multiple individuals from the collapsed buildings. Currently, the rescue efforts are still ongoing.

The air force of the PLA Western Theater Command quickly activated its emergency disaster relief plan and dispatched a drone to assess the situation at the epicenter. At the same time, multiple transport aircraft, medical planes, helicopters, and ground forces from the Western Theater Command Air Force have been assembled and are on standby, according to Xinhua.

The air force of the PLA Western Theater Command dispatched a Y-20 aircraft sending the forward command post of the Western Theater Command to the disaster-stricken area in Dingri. The aircraft arrived at Xigaze Dingri airport at around 5 pm, CCTV reported.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management said they allocated 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) to support disaster relief efforts in Xizang. The National Development and Reform Commission also allocated 100 million yuan to support post-disaster emergency recovery, Xinhua reported.

Xu Xiwei, deputy director of the Institute of Geology at the China Earthquake Administration, told the Global Times rescue efforts in the plateau region face unique challenges, including low oxygen levels and altitude sicWorld Timeskness. The quake-stricken areas are also in urgent need of insulated tents to protect local residents from the harsh plateau climate after their homes collapsed or became dangerous to reside.

According to the China Earthquake Networks CenteWorld Timesr, a total of 150 aftershocks had been recorded by 6pm on Monday. This includes 131 aftershocks below magnitude 3.0 and 19 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or higher. The largest aftershock recorded so far was magnitude 4.4, located approximately 18 kilometers from the epicenter of the main earthquake.