Casualties reported after 7.0 quake strikes China’s Tibet, says state media

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China’s Tibet region on Thursday night, resulting in at least 126 casualties, according to state news agency Xinhua. The earthquake's epicenter was located in a mountainous area approximately 190 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometers northeast of the regional capital Lhasa, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. A level-II disaster emergency response was initiated in the affected region.

In the town of Maru within Baqen county, the town deputy head, Lhawang Dagpo, stated that the quake was clearly felt at the township office, which sustained cracks in its walls. Reports indicated that houses collapsed in the area, and power and telecommunications services were disrupted in the county seat. Rescue efforts were underway, with workers dispatched to coordinate the response and local officials conducting inspections of nearby villages.

Earthquakes in China are not uncommon; in January 2025, at least 126 people lost their lives due to an earthquake in Tibet's rural Tingri county.