Northern Tibet Quake: Rescue Teams Deploy as Winter Weather Looms
Magnitude-7 tremor kills 16 and collapses 339 homes, halting key transport routes and forcing the dispatch of over 1,600 local workers.
By Maya Almasi ·
A magnitude-7 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54.
The tremor occurred at 10.33 p.m. local time, with the epicenter located 119 miles east-north-east of Nagqu. The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake at a depth of 11 miles. At least seven aftershocks followed, ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.2.
City officials reported that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed in the area. Search and rescue operations remained active as crews worked through the rubble. CCTV footage showed goods falling from supermarket shelves and rescuers entering buildings with damaged roofs. The broadcaster identified the event as the strongest in the region in five years.
Local authorities mobilized more than 1,600 workers from the county to assist with relief. Xinhua reported that over 300 police officers were assigned to the effort, while regional fire and rescue services sent nearly 350 personnel. Emergency supplies delivered to the site included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches, and winter clothing.
Transportation disruptions affected the region immediately after the quake. Local railway authorities halted trains passing through the area. A section of national highway 317 closed due to rockfalls, allowing only emergency and official vehicles to pass while crews cleared debris. Xinhua noted that communications remained down in some affected zones on Friday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in rescue and medical relief. The weather forecast predicts intermittent snow for the next three days, adding to the challenges faced by relief teams in the high-altitude region. Nagqu is situated more than 185 miles north of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Earthquakes are common in China, where recent major events have caused significant loss. At least 126 people died in a quake in Tingri county in January 2025. In December 2023, a tremor in Gansu province killed at least 134 people, marking the deadliest event in China since 2014.
Source: The Guardian
