NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – On Thursday night, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet in southwestern China, resulting in at least 16 fatalities 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 Nagqu’s northern region near the Qinghai border. Over 300 residences were destroyed, as reported by the Nagqu emergency management office. Officials are still evaluating the full scope of the destruction.
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 the Chinese agency reported a depth of 10 kilometres. China’s national broadcaster CCTV identified this as 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 advanced, official media updates increased the injury count. Local officials confirmed that at least 339 homes had collapsed, and 20 livestock sheds were damaged in Baqên County. Additionally, rockfalls obstructed part of National Highway 317, and reports of ground fissures and damaged walls appeared in Maru Township.
Rescue efforts and aid supplies arrive in affected zone
The Ministry of Emergency Management of China dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 personnel from the local county were mobilized for rescue operations, along with more than 300 troops from the Tibet Military Region and the Tibet Armed Police Corps, supported by 20 vehicles. Drones operated by the Western Theater Command conducted aerial surveys of the impacted area.
Aid deliveries included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents and foldable beds, along with flashlights and winter apparel. Over 12,400 residents were evacuated from the region. The earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude zone with an average elevation of roughly 4,800 metres. Rescue teams worked throughout the night, erecting tents to shelter those displaced from their homes.
Repeated strong tremors characterize the Tibetan Plateau
The seismic event was caused by normal faulting, aligning with ongoing east-west extension within the Tibetan Plateau. The epicenter lies within the Qiangtang Block, which has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since 1900, with the largest being a magnitude 7.5 event on November 8, 1997. Western China, including Sichuan, also faces frequent seismic activity.
In January 2025, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Dingri County in Tibet near Mount Everest, causing 126 fatalities. The recent quake follows a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan province earlier this month. Authorities in Nagqu continue their damage assessments and efforts to assist displaced residents. Updates on casualties are anticipated as rescue efforts carry on.