NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – According to Xinhua News Agency, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and the destruction of more than 300 residences. The emergency management office in Nagqu reported that dozens of individuals sustained injuries. The seismic event occurred 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 scale of the damage.
Both the China Earthquake Networks Center and the United States Geological Survey confirmed a magnitude of 7.0. The USGS indicated the epicenter was approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city, at a depth of 18 kilometres, while Chinese officials reported a depth of 10 kilometres. CCTV described this event as the strongest earthquake in the region in five years.
In Baqên County, local authorities reported the collapse of at least 339 homes and damage to 20 livestock sheds. Initial reports listed 32 injured, including 11 in critical condition, with later updates from state media increasing that number. Landslides blocked sections of National Highway 317. In Maru Township, there were reports of building collapses, ground fissures, and damaged walls.
Over 12,400 Residents Displaced Amid Large-Scale Rescue Operations
Rescue efforts saw more than 12,400 residents evacuated as authorities responded on a large scale. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 local personnel, supported by more than 300 troops and armed police with 20 vehicles, participated in rescue efforts. Military drones conducted reconnaissance flights over the affected zone.
Relief supplies included approximately 1,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with flashlights and winter clothing. Police and fire rescue teams established tents to shelter those displaced by the quake. The epicenter is situated in a remote part of northern Tibet, at an average elevation of about 4,800 metres. Search and rescue activities continued overnight.
Normal Faulting Identified as Cause of Qiangtang Block Seismic Event
Seismologists have attributed the quake to normal faulting, indicating east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. The event took place in the Qiangtang Block, an area where five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher have occurred since 1900, including a magnitude 7.5 quake in November 1997. Earthquakes remain frequent across western China, with recent tremors reported in Sichuan.
In January 2025, Tibet experienced a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Dingri County that caused 126 fatalities. Earlier in October, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Nagqu officials continue to assess damages and provide aid to those affected. Casualty figures may be revised as rescue efforts move forward.