Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Tibet, Killing 16 and Injuring 65
Powerful tremor strikes Baqen County in Nagqu City, damaging more than 330 houses as emergency teams rush relief supplies to affected areas.
BEIJING/LHASA, Oct 23: At least 16 people were killed and 65 others injured after a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, triggering emergency rescue operations and damaging hundreds of houses, officials said on Friday.
According to the city’s earthquake relief headquarters, the tremor occurred at around 10:33 pm on Thursday. Of the injured, 11 were reported to be in serious condition, while the remaining victims sustained minor injuries.
The earthquake caused extensive damage to residential buildings, with more than 330 houses either collapsing or suffering damage. Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of destruction as rescue and relief operations progress in the affected region.
The regional disaster prevention, reduction and relief committee activated a Level III emergency response for natural disaster relief on Friday to coordinate assistance and support for affected residents.
Relief materials began reaching the quake-hit area early Friday morning. Supplies provided by authorities at different administrative levels included 1,000 sets of prefabricated houses, more than 3,200 tents and over 2,800 folding beds. Essential items such as quilts, stoves, clothing and other daily necessities were also dispatched to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping directed authorities to make every possible effort to locate missing people, rescue those trapped and ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured. He also called for all necessary measures to minimise casualties and strengthen emergency response efforts.
State-run Xinhua news agency reported the developments from Lhasa, the regional capital, adding that the damage assessment and relief work were continuing.
The earthquake struck the Tibetan Plateau, a seismically active region situated near the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Their ongoing collision exerts enormous pressure on the Earth’s crust, making the wider Himalayan and Tibetan region vulnerable to powerful earthquakes.
Authorities are expected to continue evaluating structural damage and the needs of affected communities as emergency teams work to provide shelter, medical assistance and essential supplies. The immediate priorities remain rescue operations, treatment for the injured and support for families displaced by the disaster.
