A powerful Tibet earthquake of magnitude 7 struck northern Tibet near Nagqu on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54, according to figures released by local authorities. The quake, which hit at 10:33pm local time, also brought down at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds, and left communication lines down in some of the affected areas.
Casualties and Collapsed Homes
The Nagqu media office, citing city government officials, confirmed the collapse figures. Videos circulating after the tremor showed workers running from restaurants and objects tumbling from supermarket shelves. Rescue workers were later seen clambering through damaged buildings, some of which had lost their roofs entirely.
The epicentre lay 119 miles (191km) east-north-east of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude stretch of northern Tibet. The quake itself was relatively shallow, at a depth of 11 miles, a factor that can amplify shaking at the surface.
Rescue Deployment and Supplies
More than 1,600 local county people were deployed for rescue work, while over 300 police officers and almost 350 fire and rescue personnel were sent to the region. Supplies dispatched included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, about 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches and winter clothing.
President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue and medical relief effort. China’s national broadcaster CCTV reported that the quake was the biggest in the region in five years.
Aftershocks and Seismic Details
The US Geological Survey, which provided the time, epicentre and depth of the main shock, recorded at least seven aftershocks. Their magnitudes ranged from 4.3 to 5.2, all at a depth of 6 miles.
Infrastructure and Communication Disruptions
Railway authorities stopped trains from passing through the region, and Xinhua reported that communication was down in some areas. Rockfalls closed part of national highway 317, which was opened only to emergency, rescue and official vehicles while crews worked to clear debris.
Weather and Highway Closure
Intermittent snow was forecast for the next three days, adding to the challenges facing rescue teams. The affected area lies more than 185 miles north of Lhasa.
Government Response
Beyond Xi’s call for all-out rescue and medical relief, the government response included the deployment of local county personnel and the dispatch of supplies. Xinhua reported the railway emergency actions and the highway closure.
Recent Earthquake History in China
Tibet is seismically active, and China has suffered several deadly earthquakes in recent years. A January 2025 quake in Tingri county killed at least 126 people. In December 2023, a quake in Gansu province killed at least 134, the deadliest in China since 2014, when more than 600 died in Yunnan province.
Tibet, one of China’s poorest regions, has been under Chinese control since the 1950s. Its population is predominantly ethnic Tibetan, and many Tibetans reject Beijing-imposed controls on culture and religion. The region maintains a tense relationship with Beijing. China restricted international media access to the Tibetan side of the August flood on the Tibet-Nepal border.
