NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and the destruction of over 300 homes, according to Xinhua News Agency. The emergency management office in Nagqu reported that dozens of individuals were also injured. The quake hit at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, close to Tibet’s border with Qinghai Province. Authorities are still evaluating the full scope of the damage.
Both the China Earthquake Networks Center and the United States Geological Survey recorded 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 reported a depth of 10 kilometres. CCTV described this event as the strongest earthquake in the region in five years.
Local authorities confirmed that at least 339 homes had collapsed and 20 livestock sheds were damaged in Baqên County. Initial reports listed 32 injured, including 11 in serious condition, though subsequent state media updates increased this number. Landslides blocked parts of National Highway 317. In Maru Township, reports of building collapses, ground fissures, and damaged walls were also received.
Over 12,400 Residents Displaced in Response Efforts
In response to the quake, authorities evacuated more than 12,400 residents. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency level to Level III. Over 1,600 local officials participated in rescue efforts, supported by more than 300 military and police personnel, along with 20 vehicles. Drones conducted reconnaissance flights over the affected zone.
Relief supplies included roughly 1,000 prefabricated homes, about 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with flashlights and winter clothing. Police and firefighting units established tents to shelter those displaced. The epicenter is located in a remote area of northern Tibet, with an average elevation of approximately 4,800 metres. Search and rescue activities continued throughout the night.
Normal Faulting Identified as Cause of Qiangtang Block Quake
Seismologists have attributed the earthquake to normal faulting, which indicates east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. The quake occurred within the Qiangtang Block, a region that has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since 1900, including a magnitude 7.5 event in November 1997. Earthquakes are prevalent throughout western China, with recent tremors also reported in Sichuan.
Tibet faced a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Dingri County in January 2025, which resulted in 126 deaths. Earlier this October, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Officials in Nagqu continue assessing damages and conducting relief efforts for those affected. Casualty figures are expected to be updated as rescue operations proceed.