Thousands evacuated after Tibet earthquake

More than 10,000 people have been safely evacuated from the Tibet autonomous region's Dingchen county following a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that stuck Qamdo on Wednesday, authorities said.

By Thursday evening, 69 people had been confirmed injured, 12 severely, and 108 houses had collapsed.

"My house became twisted with big cracks in the walls, and a large amount area of paint fell down. It is not safe to live in the house anymore," said Dungri Tsomo, 38, whose seven family members have all been evacuated to temporarily live in tents.

The concerned mother said she had trouble sleeping as she was worried for her house and the well-being of her children.

"I could not sleep well the last two nights as I was worried about my one-year-old infant," she said.

The local government responded quickly to the quake, with rescue teams despatched to the scene immediately and debris cleared from six of the area's eight damaged roads as a priority.

"Two roads have not been reopened yet as the removal of more debris is under way," said Gyime, the Party secretary of Dingchen county, adding that the work should be complete within a day as more than 70 people were helping out using large machinery.

Dingchen county is about 800 kilometers away from Tibet's capital of Lhasa.

Monitors measured the quake's epicenter to be at 31.99 degrees north latitude and 94.94 degrees east longitude, with a depth of seven kilometers.

The worst-hit settlements were located near the Kata township, at an attitude of about 4,200 meters.

Almost half of all evacuees come from this area and have been provided with food, drinking water, and other necessities by the authorities.

More than 400 tents, 500 sets of bedding and as many overcoats have been ordered, to be distributed among the displaced.

According to the Dingchen County Education Bureau, the Kata Village Primary School, which was only lightly affected by the earthquake, will resume operation within two days.

"Our school buildings are lightly affected, the students resumed classes in the tents, and villagers are safely arranged in the settlement," said Rinchen Dondrub, deputy head of the bureau.

"The students are provided with supplies of food, water, and other basic necessities and they are gradually getting back to normal."

The 34-year-old added that Kata township had been worst affected by the quake, with many houses partially collapsed.