NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Tibet in southwestern China on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and injuring dozens, according to Xinhua News Agency. The tremor occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, situated in the northern part of Nagqu close to the Qinghai border. Over 300 homes were destroyed, as reported by the Nagqu emergency management office. Officials stated that damage assessments are still ongoing.
Both the United States Geological Survey and the China Earthquake Networks Center recorded the quake at magnitude 7.0. The USGS indicated the epicenter was approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city, at a depth of 18 kilometres, while China’s center reported a depth of 10 kilometres. China’s state broadcaster CCTV declared it the largest earthquake in the region in the past five years.
Initial reports indicated 32 people had been injured, with 11 suffering serious injuries. As damage assessments progressed, official updates from state media increased the injury count. Local authorities confirmed that at least 339 homes collapsed, along with damage to 20 livestock sheds in Baqên County. Landslides obstructed part of National Highway 317, and ground fractures and damaged walls were observed in Maru Township.
Rescue efforts and relief supplies mobilized to assist affected communities
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management activated a disaster response team, elevating the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 personnel from the local county were deployed for rescue operations. Additionally, more than 300 troops from the Tibet Military Region and the Tibet Armed Police Corps, supported by 20 vehicles, were mobilized. Drones operated by the Western Theater Command conducted aerial surveys of the affected zone.
Relief materials, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents and folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing, arrived in the region. Over 12,400 individuals were evacuated from danger zones. The earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude area with an average elevation of around 4,800 metres. Rescue teams worked through the night, erecting tents to provide shelter for those displaced from their homes.
The Tibetan Plateau endures frequent seismic activity with significant quakes
The seismic event resulted from normal faulting, aligning 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 most powerful was a magnitude 7.5 quake on November 8, 1997. Seismic activity remains common in western China, including Sichuan province.
In January 2025, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Dingri County in Tibet, near Mount Everest, resulting in 126 deaths. The recent quake also follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan province earlier this month. Authorities in Nagqu continue to evaluate damages and assist displaced residents. Updates on casualties are anticipated as rescue efforts persist.