NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – According to Xinhua News Agency, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet in southwestern China on Thursday night, causing at least 16 deaths and injuring dozens. The seismic event occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, situated in the northern part of Nagqu near the border with Qinghai Province. Over 300 homes have been reported to have collapsed, as per the Nagqu emergency management office. Officials are still evaluating the full extent of the destruction.
The United States Geological Survey and the China Earthquake Networks Center both registered the quake at magnitude 7.0. The USGS indicated that the epicenter was approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city at a depth of 18 kilometres, while the Chinese authority estimated the depth at 10 kilometres. China’s state broadcaster CCTV stated that this was the largest earthquake in the region over the past five years.
Initial reports indicated 32 individuals were injured, with 11 suffering serious injuries. As assessments continued, subsequent updates from state media reported higher injury figures. Local authorities confirmed that at least 339 homes were destroyed and 20 livestock sheds damaged in Baqên County. Landslides obstructed parts of National Highway 317, and ground fissures along with damaged walls were observed in Maru Township.
Rescue operations and aid efforts mobilized to reach affected areas
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management activated a disaster response team, elevating the emergency level to Level III. Over 1,600 personnel from the local county participated in rescue activities, supported by more than 300 troops from the Tibet Military Region and the Tibet Armed Police Corps, equipped with 20 vehicles. Drones operated by the Western Theater Command conducted aerial surveys of the impacted zone.
Relief supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, roughly 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with flashlights and winter clothing, arrived in the region. Over 12,400 residents have been evacuated. The earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude area with an average elevation of approximately 4,800 metres. Rescue teams worked through the night, constructing tents to shelter those displaced from their homes.
The Tibetan Plateau experiences recurrent significant tremors
The earthquake resulted from normal faulting, consistent with the ongoing east-west extension observed within the Tibetan Plateau. The epicenter is located in the Qiangtang Block, which has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater since 1900. The largest was a magnitude 7.5 event on November 8, 1997. Seismic activity remains common across western China, including Sichuan.
In January 2025, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck Dingri County in Tibet near Mount Everest, resulting in 126 fatalities. The recent tremor follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan earlier this month. Authorities in Nagqu continue to evaluate damages and assist displaced residents, with further casualty updates anticipated as rescue efforts proceed.