In brief
A powerful 7.0 quake struck the mountainous Baqên County in Tibet on Thursday night, taking at least 16 lives and injuring over 60 people. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency and deployed dozens of rescue teams amid challenging high‑altitude conditions. The earthquake caused widespread damage, collapsing 339 homes and cutting power in the region. More than 12,400 residents were displaced, and the country has pledged 50 million yuan for relief efforts. Residents and officials warn that aftershocks could continue, underscoring the urgency of ongoing rescue and medical operations.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Baqên County in the Nagqu region of northeastern Tibet during the early hours of Thursday night, according to Chinese state media. The disaster left a minimum of 16 people dead and more than 60 injured, with 11 suffering severe wounds.
The epicentre is located about 400 kilometres (250 miles) north‑east of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the area, while the electricity supply was cut off following the tremors. Power service was partially restored by Friday morning in some localities.
Local media reported that 339 homes collapsed and that more than 12,400 residents were relocated after the quake. Rockfall has blocked roads, complicating access for emergency crews and forcing the closure of several key routes.
The United States Geological Survey logged several nearby tremors, with the largest registering 5.2 on the Richter scale at a depth of 10 kilometres. Shallow quakes are generally more destructive, a factor that explains the extensive damage despite the relatively moderate magnitude of the main shock.
Survivors describe a terrifying scene. “I was sleeping when the ground began to shake wildly,” said Yixi Cuomu, a resident of Nagqu. “I quickly left the house, barefoot, as my legs trembled uncontrollably while I hurried down the stairs.” Another witness compared the shaking to “hundreds of yaks running past us” and added that residents slept outside in the freezing night to avoid being trapped by aftershocks.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for urgent efforts to organise rescue operations, provide medical care, and relocate affected residents. He highlighted that the region sits at an altitude of approximately 4,800 metres (15,750 feet) where aftershocks are frequent, and that the Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a special working group to oversee relief activities.
The government has announced a 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) fund for disaster relief in Tibet. By Thursday night, a total of 65 people were reported injured, and more than 400 aftershocks had been recorded. The Premier stressed the importance of securing the safety of the high‑altitude population.
Tibet has a history of severe seismic activity, including a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in 2023 that killed over 120 people in nearby Gansu province. In early 2024 the region also suffered devastating floods and landslides triggered by glacier collapse, killing at least 1,400 people and leaving others missing.
Rescue teams, comprising military personnel, firefighters, police and specialist units, were on scene within hours of the April 2025 earthquake that hit Shigatse. The Chinese military also deployed drones to survey damage and facilitate rescue operations.
Tibet remains one of China’s most heavily controlled regions, with limited access for foreign media and heavy censorship. As a result, state‑run outlets continue to be the main source of information on incidents such as this quake.
