In brief
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Baqên County in Tibet late Thursday night. Emergency services rushed to the remote high‑altitude region, dealing with collapsed homes and widespread power cuts. Rescue crews must navigate rock‑fall‑closed roads amid over 400 aftershocks tracked by authorities. Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged swift medical aid and relocation for those displaced, and the government has earmarked 50 million yuan for relief. Survivors describe cramped, sub‑zero nights and the terror of shaking like hundreds of yaks.
A powerful 7.0 magnitude quake slammed the isolated Baqên County in the Nagqu region of Tibet on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and leaving 65 badly wounded.
The tremor struck at the high‑altitude plateau, more than 400 km from Lhasa, with a shallow 10 km focus that made the shaking feel especially violent. Emergency crews were dispatched immediately, but rock‑fall‑blocked roads hampered access to some villages.
Residents reported being forced outdoors in sub‑zero temperatures while the city’s power lines were down. Authorities said 339 houses collapsed, and more than 12,400 people were relocated in the days after the quake.
An extraordinary 400+ aftershocks have rippled through the area, according with the USGS and local reports. The Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for urgent medical aid and safe resettlement, pledging 50 million yuan for relief.
Eyewitness Yixi Cuomu told the local daily that she fled barefoot to escape falling rocks, describing the shakes as feeling like “hundreds of yaks” running. Survivors were trapped overnight in tents or cars while fearing further quakes that could bury them.
Rescue teams, equipped with helicopters, drones and a specialized working group, are working through harsh terrain to reach those still trapped under rubble. The plateau’s high altitude—around 4,800 m—adds to the challenge, but local teams have previously acted swiftly in similar disasters.
