NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – A magnitude 7.0 quake struck Tibet in southwestern China on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 deaths and dozens of injuries, according to Xinhua News Agency. The tremor occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, located in the northern part of Nagqu near the border with Qinghai Province. Over 300 homes were destroyed, as reported by the Nagqu emergency management office. Authorities are still evaluating the full extent of the destruction.
The United States Geological Survey and the China Earthquake Networks Center both recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.0. The USGS determined the epicenter to be approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city at a depth of 18 kilometres, while the Chinese agency reported a depth of 10 kilometres. China’s national broadcaster CCTV described this event as the strongest earthquake in the region over the past five years.
Initial reports indicated 32 individuals injured, with 11 seriously hurt. As assessments continued, state media updates provided higher injury figures. Local officials reported the collapse of at least 339 homes and damage to 20 livestock sheds in Baqên County. Landslides and rockfalls blocked part of National Highway 317, and ground fractures along with damaged walls were observed in Maru Township.
Rescue operations and relief efforts mobilized to assist affected areas
A disaster response team from China’s Ministry of Emergency Management was deployed, and the emergency response level was elevated to Level III. Over 1,600 local rescue personnel participated in relief efforts. Additionally, more than 300 members of the Tibet Military Region and the Tibet Armed Police Corps, along with 20 vehicles, were mobilized. Aerial reconnaissance was conducted by drones operated by the Western Theater Command to assess the damage.
Relief supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing, arrived in the affected region. Over 12,400 residents were evacuated from danger zones. The earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude area with an average elevation of roughly 4,800 metres. Rescue teams worked throughout the night, constructing tents to shelter those displaced from their homes.
Frequent seismic activity on the Tibetan Plateau
The earthquake was caused by normal faulting, consistent with ongoing east-west extension within the Tibetan Plateau. The epicenter is situated in the Qiangtang Block, which has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater since 1900. The most significant was a magnitude 7.5 event that occurred on November 8, 1997. Seismic activity remains common in western China, including in Sichuan.
In January 2025, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Dingri County in Tibet near Mount Everest, resulting in 126 deaths. The latest quake follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan earlier this month. Authorities in Nagqu continue to evaluate damages and aid displaced residents. Updates on casualties are anticipated as rescue efforts persist.