Magnitude 7 Earthquake Strikes Tibet, Killing at Least 16
The quake hit a mountainous region in Baqên County, causing collapses and cutting off power, with rescue efforts underway.
A magnitude seven earthquake struck a mountainous region in Tibet on Thursday night, resulting in at least 16 fatalities, according to Chinese state media reports. The epicenter was located in Baqên County, within the Nagqu region, approximately 400 kilometers northeast of Tibet's capital, Lhasa.
Local authorities have declared an emergency and dispatched rescue teams to the affected area. Reports indicate that 32 individuals sustained injuries. The earthquake caused the collapse of over 300 homes, and power has been largely cut off throughout the region. Rockfalls have also led to road closures, hindering access for rescue crews.
This seismic event follows devastating floods and landslides in Tibet and Nepal less than two months prior, which were triggered by a glacier collapse and resulted in at least 1,400 deaths, with hundreds still missing. The mountainous and sparsely populated nature of the affected region in northeastern Tibet presents unique challenges for rescue and recovery operations.