Powerful earthquake kills 16 in Tibet, hundreds of homes collapse

A powerful earthquake struck China's Tibet region late Thursday, killing at least 16 people, injuring 46 and causing hundreds of homes to collapse or sustain damage, as emergency teams raced to reach isolated communities across the high-altitude plateau.

The magnitude-7 earthquake hit Baqen County in Nagqu, northern Tibet, at 10:33 p.m. local time (1433 GMT), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometres, about 400 kilometres from Lhasa, Tibet's regional capital. The surrounding terrain averages nearly 4,900 metres above sea level, making rescue operations particularly difficult.

Chinese authorities said 11 people were seriously injured and 35 sustained minor injuries. At least 339 homes had collapsed or suffered damage, while 20 livestock shelters were also affected. 

More than 1,600 emergency personnel were deployed to the affected areas, according to the Associated Press. Authorities dispatched prefabricated shelters, tents, beds, warm clothing and emergency lighting equipment.

Rescue efforts were complicated by rockfalls that closed part of National Highway 317, suspended railway services and disrupted communications in some communities. Snowfall forecasts over the next three days threatened to make conditions worse. 

Footage released by Chinese state media showed residents leaving their homes and seeking shelter outdoors or inside parked vehicles. One resident described being awakened by violent shaking and hearing the house creak.

Several aftershocks measuring between magnitude 3 and 4 followed the initial earthquake, according to Chinese seismic authorities.

The US Geological Survey issued an orange alert for potential economic losses, indicating that significant damage was likely. Its yellow alert for fatalities suggested the possibility of further casualties. 

The Tibetan Plateau is among the world's most seismically active regions. The continuing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates generates enormous geological pressure, producing earthquakes across Tibet and the Himalayan belt.

Thursday's earthquake was the strongest recorded in China since January 2024, according to Reuters.

The disaster also revived memories of previous earthquakes in the region.

In January 2025, a powerful earthquake struck Tibet's Tingri County, killing more than 120 people and damaging buildings near the Nepal border.

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