7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Hits China’s Tibet, Killing at Least 16

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China’s Tibet region late Thursday, killing at least 16 people, injuring 46 others and collapsing hundreds of homes in the northern city of Nagqu, according to reports from Chinese state media and local authorities.

The earthquake occurred at about 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) placing its epicentre approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area. The USGS initially recorded the quake at a depth of 10 kilometres before revising the depth to 18 kilometres in its updated assessment.

The Nagqu media office, citing city government officials, reported that at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds had collapsed. Of the 46 injured people, 11 were reported to be in serious condition, while 35 sustained minor injuries, according to the Associated Press.

More than 1,600 local personnel were deployed for search-and-rescue operations as authorities moved emergency supplies into affected areas. The relief materials included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, about 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights and winter clothing to assist residents displaced by the destruction.

The earthquake also disrupted transport and communications. China’s state news agency, Xinhua, reported that communications had been interrupted in parts of the affected region, while railway authorities halted trains passing through the area as a precaution. Rockfalls forced the closure of part of National Highway 317, with access restricted to emergency, rescue and official support vehicles while crews cleared debris.

Weather conditions could add to the challenges facing rescue workers and residents. Xinhua reported that intermittent snowfall was expected in the region over the three days following the earthquake, raising concerns about conditions for people awaiting assistance in the mountainous area.

China’s national broadcaster CCTV described the earthquake as the strongest to hit the region in five years. Nagqu lies more than 300 kilometres north of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in a remote area where the high elevation and difficult terrain can complicate emergency response efforts.

The disaster underscores the risks posed by major earthquakes in remote mountain regions, where damage to roads, communications and housing can complicate the delivery of assistance. As rescue operations continue, the immediate priorities are locating people who may still need help, treating the injured and providing shelter and essential supplies to affected households, particularly as colder conditions approach.