The Chinese authorities said 17 people were killed, 53 others injured and 12,000 have been evacuated in China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit neighboring Nepal on Saturday.

The quake toppled 1,190 houses, damaged roads and cut off telecommunications in the two counties, both in Xigaze, as well as in several neighboring regions.

In Xigaze, 54 temples sustained damage during the tremor, although no casualties have been reported so far.