Many also injured as tremors felt as far away as Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and northern India.
Chinese officials report that a strong earthquake has killed at least 53 people in Tibet and left many others injured and trapped.
The official Xinhua News Agency, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters, reported that 62 people were injured in the quake on Tuesday, as dozens of aftershocks shook the region of western China and the neighbouring state of Nepal.
Some 1,500 firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to search for people in the rubble, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.
The quake struck at 9:05am local time (01:05 GMT) at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, which recorded a magnitude of 6.8. However, the United States Geological Survey measured its magnitude as 7.1.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake is considered strong and capable of causing severe damage. Multiple aftershocks were also reported, with the strongest measuring a magnitude of 4.4.
Xinhua reported that at least nine people were killed in three townships – Changsuo, Quluo and Cuoguo – in Shigatse’s surrounding Tingri county, where many buildings had collapsed, and local media report that dozens of people died.