CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Beijing/New Delhi, A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday night caused widespread destruction. At least 16 people were killed in the natural disaster, while 54 others were injured.
The earthquake’s epicentre was in the Nagqu region of northern Tibet. According to initial reports, it was located about 10 kilometres below the surface. Because of the shallow epicentre, buildings in nearby areas were damaged and panic spread among residents.
Hundreds of houses collapsed, rescue operations intensified
In the quake-affected areas, at least 339 houses and 20 animal shelters were reported to have collapsed. Communication services were affected in several places and railway operations were also disrupted. In some areas, movement on National Highway 317 was affected due to rockslides, making it difficult for relief teams to reach the area.
Local authorities and rescue teams are carrying out operations in the affected areas. Medical assistance is being provided to the injured, and tents, temporary shelters, bedding and items to protect people from the cold have been arranged for affected families. According to officials, thousands of people have been moved to safer places.
Aftershocks continue
Several aftershocks were felt in the region after the main earthquake. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude of subsequent tremors was recorded at around 4.3 to 5.2. This has increased concern among people in the affected areas.
This part of Tibet is located at a high altitude, and many settlements are in difficult mountainous terrain. In such conditions, delivering relief material, transporting the injured to hospitals and assessing damaged buildings remain challenging. Possible changes in weather and snowfall could also affect rescue work.
Reports of tremors in Pakistan and Afghanistan
After the earthquake, reports also emerged of tremors being felt in Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the available official information does not clearly provide independent confirmation that tremors in these two countries were caused by the same earthquake. Therefore, it is important to monitor updates from the earthquake monitoring agencies of the respective countries for information related to affected areas and damage.
Concern rises again in a quake-prone region
Tibet lies close to the Himalayan geological zone, where seismic activity occurs due to the interaction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In January 2025, a powerful earthquake also struck Tibet’s Tingri region, causing large-scale loss of life and property.
The latest incident has once again underlined the need for earthquake-resistant construction, disaster management and timely relief delivery in the region. For now, the administration’s priority is to search for people trapped under debris, treat the injured and provide safe shelter to affected families. The final assessment of the number of dead and injured, as well as the extent of damage, may change as relief operations progress.
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