7.0 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16 as rescuers race through the night — 65 injured
Editorial illustration — Press Pass USAA 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude region of China's Xizang (Tibet) autonomous region Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 65, with the number of wounded still climbing as rescue teams worked through the night. The quake — the strongest to hit China since January 2024 — forced more than 12,000 people from their homes.
The quake hit Baqen County in Nagqu City at 10:33 p.m. local time, in a sparsely populated, mountainous area more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu, at a depth of around 18 kilometers. At least 339 homes collapsed, and damage assessments were still underway across villages difficult to reach.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered "all-out efforts" to find the trapped and treat the injured. More than 1,600 emergency workers were deployed to the region, along with 300 police officers sent to the epicenter. State media reported relief supplies arriving Friday, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, more than 3,200 tents, and over 2,800 folding beds.
Rescue operations faced harsh conditions: damaged roads, rockfalls blocking a major highway, disrupted communications, and the threat of snow in the mountainous zone. China's earthquake network recorded 413 aftershocks, including several between magnitude 4.3 and 5.2.
Sources: Reuters (Oct 23, 2026); IBTimes Singapore (Oct 23, 2026); The Sun / The Irish Sun (Oct 23, 2026); Times of Kashmir (Oct 23, 2026); Xinhua via state media.
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