Chinese emergency teams are carrying out search and rescue operations at the epicenter of a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck Baqen County in Nagqu City in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region at 10:33 p.m. on Thursday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command and the People's Armed Police Force Xizang Contingent immediately activated their earthquake relief contingency plans, deploying over 300 personnel and more than 20 vehicles overnight to the disaster-stricken area.

The Red Cross Society of China has activated its emergency response, urgently dispatching 3,800 relief items to the affected areas, including family relief kits, hygiene kits, heating stoves, cotton tents, winter jackets, folding beds and quilts.

China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, has also sent a rescue team from nearby areas, including 60 rescue personnel and 25 sets of specialized equipment for disaster assessment, search and rescue, the setup of relief shelters and the transport of supplies.