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Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Northern Tibet Killing 16 People

A powerful earthquake hit the Nagqu region on Thursday night, resulting in dozens of injuries and the collapse of hundreds of homes.

By Pawartaenggal Newsroom • Sunday, 25 October 2026

Nomads and a tent on the Tibetan plateau

Photo: Antoine Taveneaux / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Tibet region of China on Thursday, leaving at least 16 people dead. According to reports from Reuters on 23 October 2026, the seismic event occurred at approximately 22:33 local time (1433 GMT) on 22 October. The epicenter was situated in Nagqu in northern Tibet at a depth of 10 kilometers. This specific area features an average elevation of 4,864 meters within five kilometers of the epicenter.

Data provided by the United States Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 190 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu and roughly 400 kilometers away from Lhasa. The number of injured persons has risen to 65, an increase from the 32 previously reported. Earlier assessments by officials indicated that 11 people had been seriously injured. The earthquake caused more than 300 houses to collapse, and the state broadcaster CCTV put the number of damaged houses at 339 during the tremor.

In response to the disaster, more than 12,000 people were relocated to different areas. Disaster relief efforts included the deployment of more than 300 police officers along with 347 fire and rescue personnel. Since the initial earthquake, the China Earthquake Networks Center has recorded 413 aftershocks in the region. These secondary shocks continue to affect the area as emergency teams work to assist the displaced population.

This seismic event stands as the strongest earthquake to hit China since January 2024. While the current death toll is 16, historical comparisons show the devastating potential of such events in the region. For example, the magnitude 7.1 Yushu earthquake of 2010 killed 2,698 people. Emergency workers remain on the scene in northern Tibet to provide aid and evaluate the total impact of this latest magnitude 7.0 strike.

Source: Reuters via BusinessWorld

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Northern Tibet Killing 16 People

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