Magnitude 7 quake levels 339 homes in Nagqu as winter storms approach

Rescue crews in northern Tibet are fighting against falling snow and broken infrastructure after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the region on Thursday night. The tremor killed at least 16 people and injured 54, according to Chinese official media. The epicenter was located 119 miles east-north-east of the regional city of Nagqu.

Local officials stated that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed in and around Nagqu. Search and rescue operations remained active as of Friday. The US Geological Survey recorded the initial quake at 10:33 p.m. local time at a depth of 11 miles. The agency also logged at least seven aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 5.2, each occurring at a depth of 6 miles.

Footage from the national broadcaster CCTV showed workers fleeing restaurants and goods falling from supermarket shelves during the shaking. Rescuers were seen climbing through buildings with collapsed roofs. More than 1,600 personnel from the local county were deployed to assist. Xinhua reported that over 300 police officers and almost 350 fire and rescue personnel joined the effort.

Supplies arrived in the area, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches, and winter clothing. Logistics faced immediate hurdles as communications dropped in some affected zones. Railway authorities halted trains passing through the region as a precaution.

A section of national highway 317 was closed to all but emergency and support vehicles after rockfalls blocked the route. Crews worked to clear the debris. Intermittent snow was forecast for the next three days, complicating recovery work. The Nagqu media office described the event as the largest quake in the region in five years.

President Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in rescue and medical relief. Nagqu is situated more than 185 miles north of Lhasa. Earthquakes are frequent in the area, with a January 2025 quake in Tingri county killing at least 126 people. A December 2023 quake in Gansu province killed at least 134 people.