A magnitude-7 earthquake has hit Tibet , killing at least 16 people, injuring 54 and destroying hundreds of homes in the northern regional city of Nagqu, official media have said.

Search and rescue efforts continued after at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, the Nagqu media office said, citing city government officials. It was the biggest quake in the region in the past five years, according to China’s national broadcaster CCTV.

More than 1,600 people from the local county were deployed to help rescue efforts. Supplies were also sent into the region, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, about 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches and winter clothing.

The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 10.33pm local time on Thursday, with its epicentre 119 miles (191km) east-north-east of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area of northern Tibet.…