With an average altitude of 4,500 meters and population of more than 60,000, the county is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang. It borders on Nepal to the south.

About 3,400 people from various departments including forest firefighters, armed police, public security and the military, along with more than 150 vehicles, had been sent to the front line to carry out search and rescue operations, according to a news conference about the earthquake that was held in Shigatse on Tuesday afternoon.

Additionally, about 340 medical workers have been sent to the earthquake-stricken area to treat injured or trapped individuals. Disaster relief supplies such as self-heating rice, bottled water, instant noodles, winter coats, winter shoes, blankets, beds and tents have been sent to the area.

Emergency rescue work was being intensified, including hazard identification in the earthquake-affected areas, the evacuation and resettlement of people, and the repair of damaged facilities.

The China Earthquake Administration sent a work team to the site to assist in local disaster relief efforts.

As of 1 pm on Tuesday, 16 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or above had been recorded.

In the coming days, there is still a possibility of earthquake activity, according to experts from the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 100 million yuan ($13.7 million) of central natural disaster relief funds to support the Xizang autonomous region in carrying out earthquake disaster relief work.

Departments involved with infrastructure, signals, power supply, construction and other areas organized a comprehensive inspection of such things as railway tracks, bridges, tunnels, culverts, buildings and equipment.

Local authorities will strengthen earthquake monitoring and early warning efforts, and will spare no effort in searching for and rescuing any trapped individuals. They will also provide full support in treating the injured, carry out livelihood assistance, ensure that the basic living needs of those affected by the quake are met, and handle post-disaster tasks, according to the news conference held in Shigatse.