Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16, state media reports
The quake struck Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night, injuring dozens and collapsing 339 homes, according to Chinese state media.
At a glance
- A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Baqên County in Tibet's Nagqu region on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people.
- Authorities declared an emergency and sent rescue teams; another 32 people were injured in the quake.
- Power was cut, 339 homes collapsed and rockfall closed roads, local reports say.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck a mountainous region of Tibet on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens, Chinese state media reported.
The quake's centre hit Baqên County in the Nagqu region, Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management bureau. The county is about 400km north-east of Lhasa, in the area China calls the Tibet Autonomous Region, which it annexed in the 1950s.
Rescue efforts
Authorities declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams to the affected area. Another 32 people were injured, the reports said.
Power has been cut off and 339 homes have collapsed in the affected region, local reports said. Rockfall has closed roads, making it more difficult for crews to reach impacted high-altitude areas.
Strong tremors were also felt in the cities of Qamdo and Nyingchi in Tibet. Videos on social media show villagers running into the streets as buildings shake violently in the dark. These videos have not been independently verified.
Seismic history
The region is prone to devastating seismic activity. In 2023, a 6.2 magnitude quake killed more than 120 people in the nearby mountainous Gansu province of China.
Less than two months ago, Tibet and Nepal were devastated by massive floods and landslides unleashed by a glacier collapse, which killed at least 1,400 people. Hundreds of others are still reported missing.
Tibet, which has long demanded greater autonomy, is one of the most tightly controlled regions in China. Foreign media are restricted from the region and information is heavily censored by authorities, so Chinese state media is the main source for updates and details when such disasters happen.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- What was the magnitude of the Tibet earthquake?
- It was magnitude 7, according to Chinese state media reports. The quake's centre was in Baqên County in the Nagqu region.
- How many people died and were injured?
- At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured, with another 32 reported injured, according to Chinese state media. The reports also said 339 homes collapsed.
- Why is information about the earthquake coming mainly from Chinese state media?
- Foreign media are restricted from Tibet and information is heavily censored by authorities, so Chinese state media is the main source for updates when disasters happen.
