Deadly Earthquake Strikes Remote Tibet Region, Claims 16 Lives and Injures 32

Tibet Earthquake: 16 Killed, 32 Injured After Powerful 7.0-Magnitude Quake

At least 16 people have been killed and 32 others injured after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a remote part of China’s Tibet region on Thursday night, according to state-run news agency Xinhua, which cited local authorities.

The earthquake struck at 10:33 pm local time, causing extensive damage to residential areas and disrupting essential services. More than 300 houses collapsed, while electricity supplies and telecommunications networks were affected. Rescue teams have been deployed to the region as authorities coordinate emergency assistance and assess the damage.

Xinhua reported that, as of 2:25 am on Friday, 11 of the injured were in serious condition, while 21 others had sustained minor injuries. Rescue and relief operations remain underway in the affected areas.

RESCUE OPERATIONS LAUNCHED IN REMOTE MOUNTAINOUS REGION
The earthquake’s epicentre was located in Maru township in Baqen county, in the Nagqu area of northern Tibet. According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicentre was approximately 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and around 390 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the regional capital.

Data from the China Earthquake Networks Center indicated that the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres. The region’s rugged terrain and high altitude, averaging approximately 4,864 metres near the epicentre, could make rescue and relief efforts more challenging.

Authorities activated a Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response and dispatched firefighters and rescue personnel to affected communities. Teams are working to assist injured residents, assess damaged buildings and determine the full extent of the destruction.

Lhawang Dagpo, deputy head of Maru township, told Xinhua that the tremors were strongly felt inside the township office, where cracks developed in the walls.

Footage released by Chinese state media showed residents evacuating their homes and gathering outdoors or taking shelter in parked vehicles. Additional tremors measuring around magnitude 3 and 4 were also recorded in nearby areas after the main earthquake.

TIBET HAS EXPERIENCED DEADLY EARTHQUAKES IN THE PAST
The latest disaster has once again drawn attention to the earthquake risks faced by mountainous areas of western China, where seismic activity has repeatedly caused significant damage and loss of life.

According to reports, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit China since January 2024.

In January 2025, a powerful earthquake struck Tingri county in Tibet, killing at least 126 people and damaging homes and other structures across rural communities.

Neighbouring Qinghai province also experienced a devastating earthquake in 2010. The magnitude 7.1 tremor killed at least 2,698 people, while nearly 300 others were reported missing.

The latest earthquake has triggered an emergency response across northern Tibet, with authorities continuing rescue operations and evaluating the damage to homes and critical infrastructure. Further assessments are expected to provide a clearer picture of the disaster’s impact on the remote region.