In brief
A powerful magnitude‑7 earthquake hit Baqên County in Tibet’s Nagqu region, killing 16 people and injuring 32 others. Over 300 homes collapsed and power was largely cut, while rockfall shut down critical roads. Emergency teams have been deployed to the remote area, where rescue operations face challenging terrain. The disaster follows earlier devastating floods and landslides in Tibet and Nepal, which killed more than 1,400 people in August.
A powerful quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Baqên County in the Nagqu region of Tibet on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others, according to Chinese state media.
The epicentre was located roughly 400 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Over 300 homes collapsed and most of the power supply in the affected area was cut, authorities said.
Rockfall has sealed off many roads, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the hardest-hit villages. Emergency services have declared a state of emergency and have dispatched teams to the region to conduct search‑and‑rescue operations.
The disaster follows a series of severe flooding and landslides in Tibet and Nepal in August that killed over 1,400 people. The recent quake underscores the vulnerability of mountainous communities to natural hazards.
