Tibet Quake: 7.0 Tremor Rips Through Northern Region

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake ripped through northern Tibet on Thursday evening, leaving at least 16 people dead and 46 others injured. The tremor struck a remote, high-altitude stretch of the region, leveling structures and triggering significant rockfalls.

According to official reports, the worst devastation centered on the northern city of Nagqu. Authorities reported that at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed during the event. Of those injured, 11 people sustained serious wounds, while the remaining 35 were treated for less severe injuries.

The incident occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time with the epicenter located 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake originated at a shallow depth of 18 kilometers. CCTV, China's national broadcaster, noted that the event represents the largest earthquake to hit the region in the past five years.

Nagqu is situated more than 300 kilometers north of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The area surrounding the epicenter is described as sparsely populated. Following the initial impact, search and rescue operations were mobilized immediately to locate survivors within the wreckage.

In response to the disaster, more than 1,600 people from the local county were dispatched to assist with recovery efforts. Relief supplies have also begun arriving in the affected zone. These shipments include 1,000 prefabricated housing units, roughly 3,000 tents and folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing intended for those displaced by the damage.

Infrastructure disruptions have complicated access to the region. Xinhua reported on Friday that communications were down in certain areas. Local railway authorities took emergency measures to halt train traffic through the affected zone to prevent accidents on the damaged lines.

The earthquake triggered rockfalls that led officials to close a portion of National Highway 317. Authorities stated that only emergency, rescue, and official support vehicles are permitted to traverse the area while crews work to clear the debris.

Looking ahead, rescue teams may face harsh weather conditions. Xinhua has forecasted intermittent snow across the quake zone for the next three days, which could further hinder operations. Nagqu itself lies more than 300 kilometers north of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as of Friday.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage as relief supplies continue to pour in. The situation remains critical in the northern regional city of Nagqu, where hundreds of homes collapsed. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 18 kilometers.

Its epicenter was 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude part of northern Tibet. Nagqu itself lies more than 300 kilometers north of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 18 kilometers.

Its epicentre was 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude part of northern Tibet. Nagqu itself lies more than 300 kilometers north of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 18 kilometers.