A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake has caused widespread destruction in China's mountainous Tibet Autonomous Region, killing at least 18 people and injuring 46 others. More than 300 homes have collapsed,
A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake has caused widespread destruction in China's mountainous Tibet Autonomous Region, killing at least 18 people and injuring 46 others. More than 300 homes have collapsed, while dozens of people are feared trapped under the rubble. Authorities have launched emergency rescue operations in the affected areas.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at 10:33 p.m. (14:33 GMT). The epicenter was located in a mountainous area approximately 190 kilometers northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometers northeast of Lhasa, the regional capital. The earthquake originated at a considerable depth.
Chinese state television, citing local authorities, reported that 46 people had been injured, including 11 in critical condition. Initial assessments confirmed that 339 homes had been completely or partially destroyed. More than 300 police officers and rescue personnel have been dispatched to accelerate relief operations in the affected areas. Videos circulating on social media show frightened people rushing out of hotels and restaurants as strong tremors shook buildings. Items can also be seen falling from supermarket shelves during the earthquake.
It is worth noting that in January 2025, an earthquake in Tingri, a rural area of Tibet, killed at least 126 people. The latest earthquake comes amid the aftermath of devastating floods that struck the Nepal-Tibet border region in August, killing more than 1,400 people. The deadly flooding originated near the Nepal-Tibet border and swept away dozens of homes and buildings across northern and central Nepal. Meanwhile, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), another earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded in China. The quake occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers, approximately 505 kilometers north-northwest of Pangan in India's Arunachal Pradesh region.
