BEIJING (Agencies) – The number of people injured in a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake in China’s southwestern Tibet region has climbed to 65, while the death toll remains at 16, local authorities said on Friday.
The earthquake struck Nagqu, a sparsely populated, high-altitude city in northern Tibet, marking China’s strongest earthquake since January 2024.
Authorities have intensified rescue and emergency response operations in the affected region. More than 300 police officers, including traffic and community police personnel, were deployed to assist residents, inspect damaged buildings and support relocation efforts, according to the Nagqu police department.
State media outlet Xinhua reported that more than 12,000 people had been safely relocated following the disaster.
Videos released by local media showed residents leaving their homes and taking shelter outdoors or inside parked vehicles after the tremors. Footage shared by police showed officers loading emergency supplies into trucks and inspecting buildings and debris with flashlights.
The China Earthquake Networks Center reported that 413 aftershocks had been recorded following the main earthquake, raising concerns about continued seismic activity in the region.
The disaster has renewed memories of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Yushu, neighbouring Qinghai province. That magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed at least 2,698 people and left nearly 300 others missing.
