Xi orders all-out rescue work in Xizang

Surveillance footage shared by local media showed buildings shaking violently as the temblor struck, with goods falling off shelves and residents rushing outdoors. In Maru township, one of the hardest-hit areas in Drachen, the ground cracked open and sections of a road sank, China Central Television reported.

China's national comprehensive fire and rescue force has dispatched 350 personnel and 83 vehicles to support operations in the quake-hit areas. The national earthquake emergency response was upgraded on Friday to Level III — the third highest in China's four-tier system — while a separate Level III national natural disaster relief response was also activated.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp has deployed satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles to aid rescue efforts. The corporation said it is coordinating resources at its disposal to facilitate emergency communication and support imaging of the quake-hit areas.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have jointly allocated 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) to support rescue and relief operations, while the National Development and Reform Commission has earmarked an additional 30 million yuan from the central budget to help restore damaged infrastructure and public service facilities.

The Red Cross Society of China has allocated 3,800 units of relief supplies, including hygiene kits, heating stoves and cotton tents, along with 50 sets of emergency toilets.

On the ground, rescue teams have been working relentlessly. In Gangchen township, one of the areas closest to the epicenter, rescuers launched a door-to-door search in the early hours of Friday. In Maru, a resident trapped in a damaged house was rescued around 2:20 am by firefighters who arrived from Drachen.

On Friday afternoon, Nagchu Mayor Dondrub said at an on-site news briefing that emergency relief supplies from central and local authorities were being promptly delivered to the affected county.

He said that 18 temporary resettlement sites have been set up, providing displaced residents with warm shelter, food, clothing, clean drinking water and medical care. A total of 12,489 people have been relocated, he added.