Earthquake of magnitude 7 strikes China's Tibet, killing 16, Xinhua reports

On Thursday evening, an earthquake of magnitude 7 struck Tibet, China's southwestern region, resulting in 16 fatalities and 32 injuries, according to state news agency Xinhua. Emergency management officials in Nagqu City reported that 11 of the injured were in critical condition, while 21 sustained minor injuries. Video footage showed residents evacuating their homes and seeking refuge outside or in their parked cars.

The epicenter of the quake was located in a remote, high-altitude county in northern Tibet, at a depth of 10 km. The surrounding area has experienced minor structural damage, with some houses showing cracks. The quake is the strongest to hit China since January 2024.

Local fire and rescue teams have mobilized and are en route to the affected region. Following the initial quake, smaller tremors of magnitudes 3 and 4 were recorded in nearby areas. In 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Yushu in neighboring Qinghai province, resulting in at least 2,698 deaths and nearly 300 people remaining missing.