Magnitude 7 earthquake kills 16, damages hundreds of homes in Tibet

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 23, 2026

Photo courtesy: Reuters

BEIJING, China – At least 16 people were killed and 54 others injured after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck China’s Tibet region late Thursday, October 22, damaging hundreds of homes and prompting emergency rescue operations in the mountainous area.

The earthquake hit Baqen County in Nagqu City at approximately 10:33 PM local time, with its epicenter in a remote, high-altitude region of northern Tibet.

As of 7 AM Friday, October 23, regional emergency authorities confirmed that 11 people had sustained serious injuries, while 43 others suffered minor injuries. At least 339 households reported damaged or collapsed homes.

Rescue teams were deployed to search damaged buildings, assist survivors and provide medical care to those injured.

More than 1,600 emergency personnel were mobilized, while relief supplies began arriving in the affected communities. These included prefabricated shelters, approximately 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights and winter clothing.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a depth of 18 kilometers, approximately 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu. Several aftershocks followed, adding to concerns about the safety of damaged structures.

The powerful tremor also disrupted transportation and communications in parts of the region.

Railway authorities temporarily suspended train services, while rockfalls blocked a section of National Highway 317. Access was restricted to emergency and rescue vehicles as crews worked to clear debris.

Communications outages in some communities also complicated efforts to assess the full extent of the damage.

Rescue operations face additional challenges from Tibet’s mountainous terrain and cold weather. Intermittent snowfall is forecast in the affected area over the next three days, raising concerns about conditions for displaced residents and emergency workers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for extensive search-and-rescue operations and medical assistance for earthquake victims.

Authorities have continued distributing emergency supplies and arranging temporary accommodation for families whose homes were damaged.

The earthquake was the strongest recorded in the region in five years, according to China’s national broadcaster CCTV.

Nagqu is located more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, with many communities spread across remote areas.

Emergency teams remain on the ground as authorities assess structural damage, assist affected residents and monitor conditions following the earthquake.