A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck China's remote Tibet region late Thursday, leaving at least 16 people dead and 46 others injured, according to state media reports citing local authorities. The disaster has caused widespread destruction, collapsing over 300 houses and triggering immediate emergency response operations in the mountainous terrain.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the shallow earthquake was located at a depth of roughly 10 kilometres. It struck about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres northeast of the regional capital Lhasa. The shallow depth significantly amplified the shaking, sending terrified residents rushing out of restaurants and causing items to crash off supermarket shelves as captured in footage broadcasted by state television.
The hardest-hit area was identified as Maru township in Baqen county. Local officials reported that the township office building sustained structural cracks from the violent tremors. Power and telecommunication lines in the county suffered major disruptions, plunging parts of the affected zone into communication blackouts and hindering early damage assessments.
In response to the crisis, authorities swiftly activated a level-III earthquake disaster emergency response. Emergency services, medical personnel, and disaster relief teams were mobilized to the remote locations to pull survivors from the rubble and deliver emergency supplies. Among the 46 injured individuals, at least 11 are reported to be in serious condition, raising concerns that the death toll may rise as rescue operations push deeper into isolated mountain communities.
