16 dead, 65 injured as 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits China’s Tibet

Mangalore Today News Network

Tibet, Oct 23, 2026: At least 16 people were killed and 65 others injured after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China’s Tibet region on Thursday evening, triggering widespread damage and collapsing at least 339 houses, according to Chinese state media.

The earthquake struck the northern regional city of Nagqu, a sparsely populated, high-altitude area. It was the strongest earthquake to hit China since January 2024. Of the injured, 11 people were reported to be in serious condition, the Nagqu media office said, citing city government officials.

Search and rescue operations continued following the collapse of hundreds of homes. More than 300 police personnel, including traffic and community police officers, were dispatched to the epicentre to assist with rescue and emergency relief operations, the Nagqu police department said in a post on WeChat early Friday.

More than 1,600 local personnel were also mobilised for rescue efforts. Emergency supplies, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights and winter clothing, were sent to the affected region.

More than 12,000 people have been safely relocated, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 10.33 pm local time, with its epicentre located 191 kilometres (119 miles) east-northeast of Nagqu. The quake struck at a depth of 18 kilometres (11 miles).

The China Earthquake Networks Center reported that 413 aftershocks had been recorded following the main tremor.

In 2010, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Yushu in neighbouring Qinghai province, killing at least 2,698 people and leaving nearly 300 others missing.