Casualties reported after 7.0 quake strikes China’s Tibet

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China's western Tibet autonomous region on Thursday night, resulting in reported casualties, according to state news agency Xinhua. The epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 10.33pm, was situated in a mountainous region approximately 190km (120 miles) east-northeast of Nagqu and 390km northeast of the capital Lhasa, as reported by the US Geological Survey.

The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10km (6 miles) in Maru township, Baqen county. Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was promptly activated in the area. Local authorities have confirmed at least two injuries in a village near the epicenter, and houses have reportedly collapsed, causing power and telecommunications disruptions in the county seat.

China's state broadcaster confirmed that the quake was clearly felt in the township office, which sustained cracks in its walls. Workers have been dispatched to the region to coordinate the response, while local officials are conducting inspections of nearby villages. Although earthquakes are not uncommon in China, Thursday's quake is reportedly the strongest to hit mainland China since January 2024.

In January 2025, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Tibet's rural Tingri county claimed at least 126 lives.