More than 50 people have lost their lives and over 60 others wounded after a powerful earthquake struck a remote region of Tibet.

Chinese media report that more than a thousand houses were also damaged in the Tingri county, where the epicenter is located.

The area close to the epicenter is sparsely populated but small villages are nestled there in the often hard to access Himalayan valleys.

Rescue teams have been deployed including the Chinese air force.

The 7.1-magnitude quake which struck just after nine local time in the morning caused multiple aftershocks which were felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India.