Tibet earthquake kills 16 people in Nagqu region

A magnitude 7 earthquake has struck Baqên County in the Nagqu region of Tibet, leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens of others injured. The seismic event, which occurred on Thursday night, has prompted authorities to declare an immediate state of emergency as search and rescue operations get underway in the remote mountainous terrain. The powerful tremor was felt across the sparsely populated region, causing widespread panic among residents.

The impact of the quake has been devastating to local infrastructure, with reports from state media confirming the total collapse of 339 homes. In addition to the structural losses, the region is grappling with widespread power outages and significant damage to roads and bridges. Rescue teams dispatched to the area have faced severe delays due to frequent rockfalls and compromised transport links, which have hampered the arrival of heavy machinery and emergency supplies to the most affected communities.

This latest disaster follows a series of natural calamities in the broader region, including a high-casualty earthquake in Gansu province and severe flooding in recent months. Due to strict controls on foreign media access within Tibet, information regarding the full extent of the casualties and property damage remains primarily limited to updates provided by official state outlets. Authorities continue to monitor the situation for aftershocks while working to restore essential services to survivors in the Nagqu region.