China's Premier Li Qiang has called for "urgent efforts" to organise rescue operations and medical treatment for the injured, and relocate and resettle affected residents appropriately, according to state media.

Li noted that the earthquake-hit area is at a high altitude and prone to aftershocks.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a working group to the affected area to guide rescue and disaster relief operations.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded seven tremors close the epicentre, all of which are located in the mountainous region.

The largest tremor was recorded at 5.2 magnitude at a depth of 10km.

Meanwhile, USGS data showed the epicentre was recorded 18km deep at magnitude seven. It is also believed approximately 111,000 felt moderate to severe shaking overnight when it struck.

Shallow earthquakes and tremors closer to the Earth's surface are more damaging than deep quakes.

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

Tibet is one of the most strictly monitored regions in China. The flow of information is highly controlled by the Chinese government and independent journalism faces significant restrictions.

We are entirely reliant on Chinese state media for information as foreigners require a special permit to enter the province. People who share what is deemed to be sensitive information from the region can face serious consequences.

This makes it very difficult for us to get an accurate picture of what is happening on the ground.

Reporters from state media, which is controlled by Chinese authorities, have arrived near the epicentre and are live-streaming from the affected region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to news of the earthquake, ordering a mass rescue operation.

In a statement shared by state media, President Xi was quoted saying: "all-out efforts must be made to search for and rescue people trapped by the earthquake, provide medical treatment for the injured and minimise casualties".

"Xi stressed that the affected area is at a high altitude and temperatures are cold," the statement continued.

"He also called for the urgent deployment of emergency rescue supplies, the proper relocation and resettlement of affected residents, the repair of damaged infrastructure and effective measures to safeguard people’s lives and property."

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

Video posts on social media show villagers running into the streets as buildings shake violently in the dark. The earthquake struck late on Thursday night and was followed by several strong aftershocks.

At least 339 houses have collapsed, according to Chinese state media, and the damage is still being assessed.

Rescue teams have arrived at the epicentre of the quake which is at a high altitude of more than 4,800 metres. The Tibetan plateau is highly prone to earthquakes. In December 2023, over one hundred people were killed after an earthquake struck Gansu province.

We have just received the latest update from Chinese officials via state media.

The injury toll has increased from 32 to 54 people, some of whom are being treated for serious injuries.

Local officials have also upgraded the emergency response from level four to level three.

In China, the most serious disasters merit Level I emergency responses – while the least severe is leven four.

More than 350 personnel and 83 vehicles from China's fire and rescue teams have been dispatched to the region.

Welcome to our coverage of a deadly earthquake in Tibet overnight

Here is what we know:

• A magnitude 7 earthquake struck the region of Nagqu, a vast and sparsely populated mountainous region north-east of the Tibet's capital Lhasa, according to local reports.
• At least 16 people have been killed so far and many dozens of others have been injured, according to Chinese state media.
• Hundreds of homes have collapsed in the region, local officials say.
• Roads and power have been cut off, and the impacted villages sit at a high-altitude – approximately 4,800m (15,750 ft) above sea level.
• It is the deadliest earthquake to hit the region since 2023, when 120 people died following a magnitude 6.2 quake in the nearby Gansu province of China.
• Most of the details so far are coming from Chinese state media Xinhua, quoting local officials and emergency services. State media is often the only source of information on Tibet, which is tightly controlled by China since it was annexed in the 1950s.