Nagqu Deploys 1,600 Workers to Rebuild After 7.0 Quake Flattens 339 Homes

Earthquakes are common in China, but the region of northern Tibet faces a specific winter challenge after a recent tremor. A magnitude-7 earthquake struck the area on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54, according to Chinese official media.

The Nagqu media office reported that city government officials confirmed the collapse of at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds in and around the city. CCTV described the event as the largest quake in the region in five years. The US Geological Survey logged the tremor at 10.33 pm local time on Thursday. Its epicenter was 119 miles east-northeast of Nagqu, at a depth of 11 miles. The agency recorded at least seven aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 5.2.

Footage released by CCTV showed workers exiting restaurants and goods falling from supermarket shelves during the initial shake. Rescuers were seen navigating damaged structures with collapsed roofs. More than 1,600 people from the local county were deployed to assist with the rescue. Xinhua reported that over 300 police officers and nearly 350 fire and rescue personnel joined the effort. Supplies included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches, and winter clothing.

Local railway authorities halted trains passing through the region on Friday. Communications remained down in some affected areas. Rockfalls closed a section of national highway 317, restricting access to emergency and official vehicles while crews cleared debris. Intermittent snow was forecast for the following three days.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in the rescue and medical relief operations. Nagqu is located more than 185 miles north of Lhasa. In January 2025, a quake in Tibet's rural Tingri county killed at least 126 people. A December 2023 earthquake in Gansu province killed at least 134 people.

Tibet has a predominantly ethnic Tibetan population and one of the lower income levels in China. In August, a flood hit the border of Tibet and Nepal, with limited international media access on the Tibetan side. The current rescue operation continues as crews work to clear the rubble and distribute supplies to the affected communities.