Photo: Screenshot from Sina Weibo

 
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Lhaze county, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region at 5:11 am Monday. Preliminary surveys reported no casualties, and essential infrastructure, including water, electricity, roads and communication, remains operational, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 
 
The epicenter was monitored at 28.91 degrees north latitude and 87.54 degrees east longitude. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km, Xinhua reported citing the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

Following the earthquake, Lhaze county promptly initiated an inspection protocol.

In response to the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration promptly activated a Level IV emergency response and mobilized the CENC and the Xizang Autonomous Region’s earthquake bureau to carry out emergency response. Relevant departments were directed to conduct joint consultations, enhance seismic monitoring, assess post-quake developments, and provide timely updates, Jiemian News reported on Monday. 

The Global Times on Monday learned from the local government in Lhaze county that the number of casualties and other specific details are still under investigation and will be released later. The official determination of the earthquake’s parameters is subject to confirmation by the autonomous region’s authorities. 

As of 6:30 am, no casualties had been reported in Mangpu township, the area closest to the epicenter, following multiple inspections. Residents are currently staying in prefabricated shelters, and village officials are conducting door-to-door checks to provide reassurance to the public. 

Following the previous 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Tingri county on January 1, residents of Mangpu township were temporarily relocated to prefabricated shelters. The demolition of unsafe buildings in the township has largely been completed, and no new instances of house collapses have been reported so far, according to Xinhua.