A magnitude 7 earthquake struck China's Tibet region on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Nagqu City emergency management bureau. As of 2:25 am on Friday, 11 of the injured were in serious condition, while 21 sustained minor injuries.
Local authorities found at least two people injured in a village near the epicentre, with some houses in villages closest to the epicentre showing cracks, the state broadcaster said. The quake was the strongest to hit China since January 2024.
The epicentre was in a sparsely populated, high-altitude county in Nagqu, northern Tibet, at a depth of 10 km. The average elevation within 5 km of the epicentre is about 4,864 metres, data from the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) showed.
Videos released by local state-run media showed people leaving their homes and seeking shelter outside or in cars parked on the street. One resident reported being awakened by the strong quake and hearing the house creaking during the tremor.
The epicentre was around 400 km from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. Local fire and rescue teams have been mobilised and are heading to the affected region.
A series of smaller tremors of around magnitude 3 and 4 were recorded in surrounding regions following the main quake. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage to infrastructure and communication lines in the remote mountainous terrain.
Emergency response teams are facing challenges due to the high altitude and difficult weather conditions in the region. Medical supplies and temporary shelters are being dispatched to the affected areas to assist the survivors.
In 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province, killing at least 2,698 people and leaving nearly 300 missing. This latest incident serves as a grim reminder of the seismic vulnerability of the Tibetan plateau.
The Chinese government has pledged full support for the rescue and recovery operations. President Xi Jinping has ordered local authorities to prioritize the safety of lives and minimize casualties.
As the rescue mission continues, the international community has expressed condolences for the loss of life. Further updates are expected as the rescue teams reach the most isolated villages near the epicentre.