Strong Earthquake Hits Northern Tibet, Houses Reportedly Collapse

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake has struck northern Tibet in southwestern China, damaging buildings and injuring at least two people as authorities mobilised emergency teams to assess the impact.

The earthquake struck at approximately 10:33 p.m. local time on Thursday, October 22, in Baqen County in the Nagqu region, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also recorded the tremor at magnitude 7.0, placing its epicentre about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu.

The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth. China’s earthquake agency reported a depth of approximately 10 kilometres, while the USGS initially reported a depth of 18 kilometres.

Reuters reported that at least two people were injured, while local reports indicated that some houses sustained damage, including cracks in their walls. Chinese state media also reported collapsed houses and disruptions to electricity and telecommunications in the county seat.

Residents reportedly rushed out of buildings as the shaking was felt across the affected area. Videos shared by Chinese state media showed people evacuating their homes and seeking safety outdoors and inside vehicles.

Authorities activated an emergency response and dispatched rescue workers to the affected communities. Local officials were checking nearby villages and assessing damage to buildings and infrastructure as further information emerged.

The earthquake’s epicentre was located in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area approximately 400 kilometres from Lhasa, Tibet’s regional capital. The terrain and elevation could complicate access for emergency teams, particularly in remote settlements.

Several smaller tremors were recorded after the main earthquake, including aftershocks measuring above magnitude 5, according to seismic reports. Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the area for further seismic activity.

Tibet lies in a seismically active part of Asia, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates interact, producing earthquakes that can cause significant damage in mountainous communities.

The region experienced another devastating earthquake in January 2025, when a magnitude 6.8 tremor struck Tingri County, killing at least 126 people and damaging thousands of homes.

Officials have not yet provided a complete assessment of the latest earthquake’s damage or its full human toll. Rescue operations and inspections are continuing as authorities work to establish the extent of the destruction.