NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.0 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, situated in the northern part of Nagqu near the border with Qinghai Province. Over 300 homes were destroyed, as per the Nagqu emergency management office. Authorities are still evaluating the full extent of the damage.
Both the United States Geological Survey and the China Earthquake Networks Center recorded the quake at magnitude 7.0. The USGS identified the epicenter approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city at a depth of 18 kilometres, while Chinese officials reported a depth of 10 kilometres. China’s national broadcaster CCTV stated that this was the most significant earthquake in the region over the past five years.
Initial reports indicated 32 individuals were injured, with 11 suffering serious wounds. As assessments progressed, official updates increased the injury count. Local authorities reported that at least 339 homes were destroyed, and 20 livestock sheds sustained damage in Baqên County. Landslides obstructed parts of National Highway 317, and cracks along with damaged walls were observed in Maru Township.
Rescue efforts and aid distribution underway in quake-affected area
A disaster response team was dispatched by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, elevating the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 local personnel have been engaged in rescue operations. Additionally, more than 300 personnel from the Tibet Military Region and the Tibet Armed Police Corps, along with 20 vehicles, have been mobilized. Aerial reconnaissance has been carried out by drones from the Western Theater Command.
Aid supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing, have arrived in the affected zone. Over 12,400 residents have been evacuated. The earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude region with an average elevation of about 4,800 metres. Rescue teams worked through the night, constructing tents to shelter those displaced from their homes.
Frequent seismic activity highlights Tibetan Plateau’s vulnerability
The seismic event was caused by normal faulting, aligning with ongoing east-west extension 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, including a magnitude 7.5 event on November 8, 1997. Seismic activity remains common across western China, notably in Sichuan.
In January 2025, a magnitude 7.1 quake struck Dingri County in Tibet near Mount Everest, resulting in 126 fatalities. The latest quake follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan province earlier this month. Authorities in Nagqu continue to evaluate the damage and assist displaced residents. Further casualty figures are anticipated as rescue operations persist.