Drone Deployment and Rescue Efforts Underway After Devastating Earthquake in Xizang Region

In response to a catastrophic earthquake that struck Dingri county in the Xizang autonomous region, the People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command Air Force has launched a drone to assist in surveying the affected area. The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 6.8, occurred on Tuesday at 9:05 AM and has led to the tragic loss of at least 53 lives and injuries to another 62 individuals, as confirmed by local authorities by 12:30 PM the same day.

The region has suffered significant infrastructural damage, with nearly 1,000 houses reported to be compromised. The PLA Western Theater Command has mobilized not only drones but also transport airplanes, medical aircraft, and helicopters, with ground forces at the ready for immediate deployment to assist in disaster relief operations. The State Council Earthquake Relief Headquarters has sent a dedicated team to oversee and coordinate the ongoing relief efforts, as reported by the Ministry of Emergency Management.

In the wake of the earthquake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, over 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers have been dispatched to the area to conduct search and rescue missions. Reports indicate that the earthquake resulted in collapses in Tonglai village, situated within Changsuo township, with significant seismic activity occurring in the past five years—29 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater have been documented within a 200 km radius of the epicenter. Seven villages are located within a 5 km area surrounding the epicenter, which is notably 34 km from Dinggye county, 36 km from Dingri county, 164 km from Shigatse city, and 379 km from Lhasa, the regional capital.