NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and the collapse of over 300 homes, according to Xinhua News Agency. Citing Nagqu’s emergency management office, Xinhua reported that dozens of individuals also sustained injuries. The tremor hit at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, near Tibet’s border with Qinghai Province. Authorities are still evaluating the full scope of the destruction.
Both the China Earthquake Networks Center and the United States Geological Survey confirmed a magnitude of 7.0. The USGS indicated that the epicenter was approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city at a depth of 18 kilometres, while Chinese officials measured the depth at 10 kilometres. CCTV described this event as the strongest earthquake in the region in five years.
Local authorities reported that at least 339 homes were destroyed, with 20 livestock sheds also damaged in Baqên County. Initial reports listed 32 injured, including 11 in critical condition, though later updates from state media suggested higher figures. Landslides blocked part of National Highway 317, and in Maru Township, building collapses, ground fissures, and damaged walls were observed.
Over 12,400 Evacuations Conducted
In response to the disaster, over 12,400 residents were evacuated as authorities mobilized a comprehensive relief effort. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency level to Level III. More than 1,600 local personnel participated in rescue operations, supported by over 300 troops and armed police with 20 vehicles. Military drones conducted reconnaissance flights over the affected zone.
Relief supplies included around 1,000 prefabricated housing units, roughly 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with flashlights and winter clothing. Police and fire rescue teams established tents to accommodate those displaced by the quake. The epicenter is situated in a sparsely populated area of northern Tibet at an average elevation of about 4,800 metres, with search efforts continuing overnight.
Normal Faulting Responsible for Qiangtang Quake
Seismologists attributed the quake to normal faulting, indicating east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. The event took place in the Qiangtang Block, which has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater since 1900, including a notable magnitude 7.5 quake in November 1997. Earthquakes are frequent throughout western China, with recent tremors in Sichuan.
In January 2025, Tibet suffered a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Dingri County that resulted in 126 deaths. Earlier in October, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Officials in Nagqu continue assessing damages and providing aid to affected residents, with casualty numbers subject to change as rescue efforts proceed.