Watch | Tibet Earthquake Kills 16, Injures 65 As More Than 12,000 Residents Evacuated
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Tibet, killing 16 people and injuring 65. More than 12,000 residents were evacuated as rescue teams assessed damage and delivered emergency supplies
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre 183 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city. (Screengrab)
At least 16 people were killed and 65 others injured after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck China’s Tibet Autonomous Region late Thursday, destroying hundreds of homes and prompting large-scale search, rescue and relief operations. Eleven of the injured were in serious condition, as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage and assist affected residents.
More than 12,000 people were evacuated from affected areas as emergency teams searched for missing residents and delivered essential supplies. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to intensify search and rescue efforts and ensure that injured people received prompt medical treatment.
The earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City at approximately 10:33 p.m. Thursday, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre 183 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu city.
Tibetan Administration Warns Damage Could Be Greater
Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering cautioned that the full scale of the destruction remained unclear and could exceed initial estimates because information from the affected region was difficult to obtain.
“We have no idea about the impact of that earthquake so far,” he said, noting that access to reliable information remained limited.
Tsering said Tibet lies in a seismically active zone and warned that the reported earthquake magnitude could be revised as additional information became available. The CTA planned to seek further confirmation about the damage and its impact throughout Friday.
He also drew comparisons with earlier flooding in Tibet and Nepal, when obtaining information from disaster-hit areas had proved similarly challenging.
Rescue Operations And Emergency Response Intensified
More than 1,600 personnel from the local county were mobilised for rescue operations, while over 300 police officers, including traffic and community police personnel, were dispatched to the epicentre to support emergency response and relief efforts.
The regional emergency command centre in Xizang activated a Level-II emergency response to accelerate rescue operations and coordinate assistance. Specialised teams were sent to affected locations as authorities continued assessing damaged buildings and the needs of displaced residents.
More than 330 houses were reported to have collapsed in the earthquake, adding to concerns about the scale of destruction across the region.
Emergency Supplies Reach Earthquake-Hit Areas
Relief materials began arriving in the affected region early Friday, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, more than 3,200 tents and over 2,800 folding beds. Authorities also arranged essential supplies such as quilts, stoves, clothing, flashlights and winter wear to help residents cope with the aftermath of the disaster.
Electricity restoration efforts were also underway. State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co. Ltd. reported that power had been restored to 1,937 households in Baqen County by 10 a.m. local time Friday.
Meanwhile, railway authorities worked to restore transport services while maintaining safety precautions in the earthquake-hit area.
Railway Services Resume With Restrictions
Passenger trains on the affected section of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway resumed operations at reduced speeds on Friday morning, China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co. Ltd. said.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV had reported that railway authorities suspended train services through the affected region following the earthquake. The subsequent resumption at lower speeds indicated that restrictions remained in place as authorities monitored conditions along the railway.
Search and rescue operations, infrastructure assessments and the distribution of emergency supplies continued on Friday, while officials awaited more comprehensive information to determine the full extent of the earthquake’s impact.