The magnitude-7.9 quake that struck Nepal on Saturday rippled outward over the Chinese border and damaged many villagers' homes in Nyanang county in the Tibet autonomous region, including Dargyeling - population 213.

"There were no casualties in our village, but most of the houses were damaged. Mine is the hardest hit," said Phurbu, the village leader. Both the front and back walls of his house had collapsed.

"The front and back partially collapsed, and most facilities were damaged. We could restore some facilities with the help of the army," said the 47-year-old who, like other villagers, moved his family to a tent.

When the earthquake struck, his family was working in the fields.

"We were about to have lunch in the fields when it happened," Phurbu recalled. "It was hard to see the snow-capped mountains and everything else around us when it was shaking heavily."

His wife, Tashi Drolma, remembered the fear she felt when the quake struck. The shock made it difficult for her to sit or stand. Luckily, nobody was inside the house.

According to villagers, all but three of Dargyeling's 41 houses were damaged.

The day after the quake, rescue teams handed out disaster relief supplies to the villagers. Every family was provided with a tent, 50 kg of tsamba - roasted barley flour - instant noodles, tea leaves, medicine and carpets.

Phurbu said that with the help of the PLA, his family recovered some food supplies, such as barley and rice, from the ruins of their house.

"My family now has enough food. We're helping others whose food was buried under the debris," he said.

"We are fine, thanks to the help from the government. We are now provided with food, a tent and much-needed supplies," said Ngagwang Tsering, 58, another villager.

Ngagwang Tsering's wife, Phurbu Drolma, 60, said that the animals raised by family members are safe, although much of their furniture had been damaged.

"Now our biggest worry is the house," she said. "We hope the government will help restore it when things get better."

Another difficulty facing the villagers is the shortage of animal feed. Most supplies in the village were buried by debris.

"Now I am not scared if we have any difficulties, because we can call the government to help us at any time," said Losang Trinley, 25, another male villager.

Losang Nyima, 11, a student, admitted that he was scared when the earthquake struck.

"Many windows in our classroom broke and our teacher told us to get to open ground. The boys did not cry, but all the girls did," he said.

Contact the writers through daqiong@chinadaily.com.cn