NAGQU, China / AsiaWire.IO / – Seismic activity remains a significant concern across western China, and recent events continue to demonstrate this reality. On Thursday night, a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and the collapse of over 300 homes, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. The emergency management office in Nagqu indicated that dozens of individuals were injured in the disaster. The tremor hit at 10:33 p.m. local time on October 22 in Baqên County, situated near Tibet’s border with Qinghai Province. Authorities are still working to determine the full scope of the destruction.
Both the China Earthquake Networks Center and the United States Geological Survey confirmed a magnitude of 7.0. The USGS reported that the quake’s epicenter was approximately 191 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city, at a depth of 18 kilometres, while Chinese officials measured the depth at 10 kilometres. CCTV described this event as the strongest earthquake the region has experienced in five years.
Local authorities reported that in Baqên County, at least 339 homes were destroyed, and 20 livestock sheds suffered damage. Initial casualty reports listed 32 injured, including 11 in critical condition, but subsequent updates from state media suggest the numbers are higher. Landslides and rockfalls isolated parts of National Highway 317, and reports from Maru Township detailed building collapses, ground fissures, and damaged walls.
Over 12,400 Residents Displaced in Response Efforts
In response to the quake, authorities evacuated more than 12,400 residents and launched an extensive relief operation. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a disaster response team and elevated the emergency response level to Level III. Over 1,600 local personnel participated in rescue efforts, supported by more than 300 troops and armed police units operating 20 vehicles. Additionally, military drones carried out reconnaissance flights over the affected zones.
Relief supplies included approximately 1,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,000 tents and foldable beds, along with flashlights and winter clothing. Police and fire rescue teams established tents to shelter those displaced by the tremor. The epicenter lies in a remote region of northern Tibet, at an average elevation of about 4,800 metres. Rescue operations and searches continued through the night.
Normal Faulting at Qiangtang Block Triggered the Earthquake
Seismologists attribute the quake to normal faulting, indicative of east-west extension within the Tibetan Plateau. The event occurred in the Qiangtang Block, an area that has experienced five earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since 1900, including a magnitude 7.5 event in November 1997. Earthquakes are common in western China, with recent tremors also reported in Sichuan.
Earlier in January 2025, Tibet was struck by a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Dingri County, which resulted in 126 fatalities. In South Asia, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Pakistan’s Balochistan province earlier this October. Officials in Nagqu continue to assess damages and conduct relief operations for those affected. Casualty figures may be revised as rescue activities go on.