President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Dingri county in Shigatse of Xizang autonomous region on Tuesday.

In an instruction made on the disaster, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged efforts to properly resettle the affected people and ensure they are safe and sheltered in the cold winter.

The earthquake took place at 09:05 am on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometers. It was reported to have claimed 53 lives by press time.