A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous region of Tibet on Thursday night, leaving at least 16 people dead and 65 others injured, according to Chinese state media.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located in Baqên County in the Nagqu region, approximately 400 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported the casualties, citing local emergency management authorities.
Of the 65 people injured, 11 were reported to be in serious condition. The earthquake also caused widespread destruction, collapsing at least 339 homes and disrupting electricity supplies across affected communities.
Authorities declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams to the region, while more than 12,400 residents were evacuated from their homes. Electricity had reportedly been restored in some areas by Friday morning.
Rescue operations have been complicated by the region’s mountainous terrain, high altitude and falling rocks, which have blocked roads and restricted access to isolated communities.
The affected area sits approximately 4,800 metres above sea level, where freezing temperatures and difficult geographical conditions pose additional challenges for emergency workers.
According to the United States Geological Survey, seven significant tremors were recorded near the earthquake’s epicentre, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 5.2 at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.
Chinese state media also reported that more than 400 aftershocks had occurred by Friday morning, prompting many residents to remain outdoors overnight despite subzero temperatures.
Survivors described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently, forcing families to flee their homes. Some residents reportedly spent the night in vehicles or temporary tents, fearing that additional tremors could cause further structural collapses.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for immediate rescue and medical assistance, directing authorities to prioritize the treatment of injured residents and provide suitable temporary accommodation for displaced families.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a specialized team to coordinate disaster response efforts and assist local authorities with rescue operations.
The Chinese government also announced an emergency allocation of 50 million yuan, approximately US$7.5 million, to support relief and recovery efforts in the affected region.
Tibet is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of its location along a major tectonic boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide.
The latest disaster follows several destructive natural events across the Himalayan region. In 2023, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in China’s Gansu province killed more than 120 people.
More recently, Tibet and neighbouring Nepal experienced devastating floods and landslides following a glacier collapse, with at least 1,400 deaths reported and hundreds of people still missing.
Chinese emergency response teams have extensive experience operating in the region. During a major earthquake in Tibet’s Shigatse area in January 2025, military personnel, firefighters, police officers and specialized rescue workers were deployed within hours.
However, limited access to remote communities and restrictions on independent reporting continue to make it difficult to assess the full extent of damage and casualties.
Authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations as emergency teams work to locate survivors, restore essential services and provide shelter to thousands of displaced residents.
