TIBET: A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China’s mountainous Tibet region, killing at least 18 people and injuring 46 others, according to reports. The quake also caused hundreds of houses to collapse, leaving several people trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency rescue operations have been launched in the affected areas, with authorities mobilising personnel to assist residents and assess the damage.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at 10:33 p.m. local time (1433 GMT). Its epicentre was located in a mountainous area approximately 190 kilometres northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa.
Chinese state television, citing local authorities, reported that 46 people had been injured, including 11 who were in critical condition.
Initial assessments confirmed that 339 houses had been completely or partially damaged. More than 300 police officers and rescue personnel were dispatched to affected areas to speed up emergency operations and search for people believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings.
Videos circulating on social media showed frightened people rushing out of hotels and restaurants as the tremors shook buildings. Goods were also seen falling from supermarket shelves during the earthquake.
Previous Deadly Earthquake in Tibet
The latest disaster comes after a devastating earthquake struck Tibet’s rural Tingri County in January 2025, killing at least 126 people.
The region is located in a seismically active part of the Himalayas, where powerful earthquakes can cause extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
The latest earthquake also comes amid reports of a deadly wave of flooding in Nepal and the Tibet border region in August, which reportedly claimed more than 1,400 lives. The flooding began near the Nepal-Tibet border and swept away houses and other structures across parts of northern and central Nepal.
Also Read: Floods and landslides kill more than 50 in India and 14 in Nepal
Meanwhile, the National Center for Seismology reported another earthquake in China, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale. The quake occurred at a depth of 15 kilometres, approximately 505 kilometres north-northwest of Panging in Arunachal Pradesh.
