Powerful earthquake hits Tibet killing 16 people, reports say

Key points

• A magnitude seven earthquake struck Baqên County in Tibet's Nagqu region on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others.
• Power was cut off and 339 homes collapsed, while rockfall closed roads and slowed rescue teams trying to reach high-altitude areas.
• The region is prone to seismic activity; in 2023 a 6.2 magnitude quake killed more than 120 people in nearby Gansu province.

A magnitude seven earthquake has struck a mountainous region in Tibet, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more, according to Chinese state media. The quake's centre hit Baqên County in the Nagqu region on Thursday night, Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management bureau. The county lies 400km north-east of Lhasa, Tibet's capital.

Authorities have declared an emergency and sent rescue teams to the area, where 32 people were also injured. Local reports said power has been cut off and 339 homes have collapsed.

Rescue effort hampered by rockfall

Rockfall has forced roads in the region to close, making it harder for crews to reach affected high-altitude areas. Strong tremors were also felt in the cities of Qamdo and Nyingchi in Tibet.

Videos on social media show villagers running into the streets as buildings shake in the dark, though the footage has not been independently verified.

History of seismic activity

The region is prone to devastating seismic activity. In 2023, a 6.2 magnitude quake killed more than 120 people in the nearby mountainous Gansu province of China.

Less than two months ago, Tibet and Nepal were devastated by massive floods and landslides unleashed by a glacier collapse, which killed at least 1,400 people. Hundreds of others are still reported missing.