Powerful Magnitude-7 Earthquake in Tibet Kills at Least 16, Injures 54 and Topples Hundreds of Homes
Rescue teams and supplies deployed
More than 1,600 people from the local county were sent to help with rescue efforts. Supplies brought to the region included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, about 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with torches and winter clothing.
Footage shown by CCTV depicted rescue workers moving through damaged buildings, including structures with collapsed roofs. Xinhua reported that communications were down in some areas affected by the quake.
Aftershocks and rail disruption
The US agency recorded at least seven aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.2. Each was reported at a depth of 10km, according to its website. Local railway authorities took emergency steps to stop trains travelling through the region. Xinhua said intermittent snow was expected in the quake area over the following three days.
Deadliest recent earthquakes
CCTV described the Tibet quake as the region’s largest in five years. The disaster killed at least 16 people, injured 54 and damaged hundreds of homes in Nagqu.
A quake in remote Gansu province in December 2023 killed at least 134 people, state media reported. It was China’s deadliest earthquake since 2014, when more than 600 people died in Yunnan province.
Key points
- The magnitude-7 earthquake killed at least 16 people and injured 54 in northern Tibet.
- Hundreds of homes collapsed in Nagqu, and more than 1,600 people were deployed for rescue work.
- At least seven aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 5.2, were recorded.
- Some communications were down, trains were halted, and intermittent snow was forecast.