At least 16 people have been killed and 32 others injured after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region, with more than 300 houses collapsing.
China’s state news agency, Xinhua, reported the casualties, citing local authorities, as emergency response teams continued rescue and disaster relief operations.
The earthquake struck at 10:33 pm on Thursday, with officials still assessing the full extent of the damage.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was in a mountainous area about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the regional capital.
Emergency Response Activated
Authorities activated a Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response in the affected area, Xinhua reported.
The epicentre was located in Maru township, Baqen County, where the tremor was strongly felt.
Township deputy head Lhawang Dagpo told Xinhua that the earthquake shook the township office, leaving cracks in its walls.
Power and telecommunications services were also disrupted in the county seat, adding to the challenges facing residents and emergency responders.
Officials were continuing to assess the damage as relief operations remained underway.
Tibet Has History of Deadly Earthquakes
Earthquakes are relatively common in China, particularly in seismically active regions.
In January 2025, at least 126 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck Tingri County in Tibet, devastating rural communities.
The latest disaster has again raised concerns over the vulnerability of communities in the mountainous region to powerful earthquakes.
