Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing
Beijing, Oct 23: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 magnitude has killed at least 16 people and injured 46 others in China's remote Tibet region, according to state media citing local authorities.
The earthquake caused extensive damage, with 339 houses reported to have collapsed or sustained damage. Eleven of the injured are in serious condition, while rescue and relief operations are continuing.
The tremors struck on Thursday night, prompting people to rush out of restaurants and shops as buildings shook and items fell from supermarket shelves. Authorities are assessing the damage and searching affected buildings to rescue people and provide assistance.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located in a mountainous area around 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the regional capital. The earthquake struck at 10.33 pm at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.
The epicentre was in Maru township in Baqen county. Township deputy head Lhawang Dagpo told Xinhua that the tremors were strongly felt at the township office, where cracks appeared in the walls.
Power and telecommunications services were disrupted in the county seat following the earthquake. A Level-III earthquake disaster emergency response was activated in the affected area, CCTV reported.
Local officials said 339 houses had collapsed or sustained damage. More than 300 police officers have been deployed to assist with relief operations, while the regional fire and rescue corps has mobilised 347 personnel to affected areas, Xinhua reported.
Footage broadcast by CCTV showed rescue workers inspecting damaged buildings, including structures with collapsed roofs. Rescuers were seen carrying an injured person and using torches to search damaged structures, while soldiers prepared for deployment. Tents are also being set up to provide temporary shelter for displaced residents.
The earthquake is reported to be the strongest to hit Tibet in five years. It comes weeks after severe flooding and landslides affected areas near the border between Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, with reports indicating more than 1,400 deaths and thousands missing.
China has experienced several devastating earthquakes over the years. In January 2025, at least 126 people were killed in an earthquake in Tingri county in rural Tibet. In December 2023, a powerful earthquake in Gansu province killed at least 127 people, making it China's deadliest earthquake since 2014, when more than 600 people died in Yunnan province.
One of the country's worst earthquake disasters occurred in 2008, when a massive tremor struck Sichuan province, leaving around 90,000 people dead or missing, including approximately 5,000 schoolchildren.
Rescue and relief operations are continuing in Tibet as authorities assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected.