In brief
A powerful 7.0‑magnitude earthquake struck Baqên County in Tibet’s Nagqu region on Thursday night, resulting in 16 deaths and 65 injuries. The quake toppled 339 homes, severed power to thousands, and triggered over 400 aftershocks, complicating rescue operations. Premier Li Qiang ordered urgent emergency aid and a 50‑million‑yuan relief fund, while specialized teams, including the military and drone units, mobilized to the high‑altitude site. Survivors recount terrifying shaking, and residents have been forced to sleep outside amid fears of further aftershocks. Despite restricted foreign media access, the story is unfolding in real‑time on RTW’s live‑streaming platform.
A 7.0‑magnitude quake struck Baqên County in the Nagqu region of the Tibet Autonomous Region at 02:26 GMT on Thursday night, leaving at least 16 dead and 65 injured, officials report.
The tremor, the largest in hours, ripped through a high‑altitude area 400 km northeast of Lhasa, shutting down power to thousands of homes, 339 of which collapsed. Rescue teams were dispatched immediately after authorities declared an emergency.
Since the shock, Chinese authorities have documented more than 400 aftershocks, and roads have been closed by rockfall, hampering relief work. Premier Li Qiang has ordered urgent emergency aid and the relocation of the displaced, with the government earmarking 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) for disaster relief.
Survivors recount terrifying scenes: one woman fled barefoot to the street as her house rattled; another said the shaking felt like “hundreds of yaks” passing by. Many residents spent the night in tents or cars, fearing further aftershocks could trap them inside.
Rescue crews—including military, firefighters, police and drone teams—have mobilised quickly. The region has previously suffered a 6.2‑magnitude quake in Gansu province in 2023 and floods/landslides that killed more than 1,400 in Nepal and Tibet in early 2026.
With foreign media largely barred from the plateau, state‑run outlets continue to be the main source of updates, and the community is following the story in real‑time through RTW’s live‑streaming platform.
For more context, see a 6.2‑magnitude quake that killed more than 120 people in 2023.
