Nagqu Dispatches 1,600 Workers to Clear Rubble After 7.0 Quake
At least 16 people died and 54 were injured when the tremor struck at 10:33 p.m. local time, collapsing 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds in northern Tibet.
By Priya Singh ·
Local authorities in Nagqu deployed more than 1,600 workers to assist with rescue and relief operations on Friday. The mobilization followed a magnitude-7 earthquake that struck the region at 10:33 p.m. local time on Thursday. Chinese official media reported at least 16 deaths and 54 injuries in the initial assessment.
The Nagqu media office stated that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed in and around the city. Search and rescue teams continued working through the damaged structures. CCTV identified the event as the largest seismic event in the area within the past five years. Footage from the network showed goods falling from supermarket shelves and workers exiting restaurants as the ground shook.
The US Geological Survey placed the epicenter 119 miles east-north-east of Nagqu. The tremor originated at a depth of 11 miles in a sparsely populated, high-altitude zone. The agency recorded at least seven aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 5.2. Each aftershock occurred at a depth of 6 miles.
Relief logistics expanded rapidly on Friday. Xinhua reported that over 300 police officers joined the effort, while regional fire and rescue services sent nearly 350 personnel. Aid shipments included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches, and winter clothing. These supplies aim to support residents as search operations continue.
Infrastructure damage disrupted transportation and communication in the affected zone. Local railway authorities halted trains passing through the region as an emergency measure. Rockfalls closed a section of national highway 317, restricting access to emergency, rescue, and official support vehicles. Crews worked to clear debris from the roadway. Communications remained down in some areas, according to Xinhua.
Weather conditions added complexity to the response. Intermittent snow was forecast for the next three days. Chinese president Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in the rescue operation and medical relief work. Nagqu sits more than 185 miles north of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.
Tibet experiences frequent seismic activity due to its geological setting. In January 2025, a quake in Tingri county killed at least 126 people. A previous event in December 2023 in Gansu province resulted in at least 134 deaths, marking China's deadliest quake since 2014. The region remains one of China's poorest, with a predominantly ethnic Tibetan population.
Source: The Guardian
