NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.0 struck Tibet on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 deaths and the destruction of more than 300 residences, according to Xinhua News Agency. The emergency management office in Nagqu reported that dozens of individuals were also wounded. The tremor 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 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. Chinese officials reported a depth of 10 kilometres. State broadcaster CCTV described it as the strongest earthquake in the region in five years.
Local authorities reported that at least 339 homes have been destroyed, and 20 livestock sheds damaged in Baqên County. Initial reports listed 32 injured, with 11 in critical condition, though subsequent state media updates suggest higher numbers. Landslides have blocked sections of National Highway 317. In Maru Township, building collapses, ground fissures, and damaged walls have been observed.
Over 12,400 Residents Evacuated in Response Effort
A large-scale evacuation was carried out, with more than 12,400 residents moved to safety. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 local personnel are actively involved in rescue efforts, supported by more than 300 troops and armed police units operating 20 vehicles. Military drones have conducted aerial reconnaissance over the impacted zone.
Relief supplies include approximately 1,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,000 tents and folding beds, as well as flashlights and winter clothing. Police and fire rescue teams have established tents to accommodate those displaced by the quake. The epicenter is located in a remote, sparsely populated area of northern Tibet, at an average altitude of about 4,800 metres. Search operations continued through the night.
Normal Faulting Identified as Cause of Qiangtang Block Earthquake
Seismologists have attributed the quake to normal faulting, which indicates east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. The event occurred within the Qiangtang Block, an area that has experienced five other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since 1900, including the largest magnitude 7.5 quake in November 1997. Earthquakes are frequent across western China, with recent tremors also reported in Sichuan.
Tibet endured a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Dingri County in January 2025, which resulted in 126 fatalities. Earlier in October, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Officials in Nagqu continue to assess damage and coordinate relief efforts for those affected. The casualty count may be updated as rescue activities proceed.