A powerful earthquake centered in Baqên County within Tibet’s Nagqu region resulted in significant casualties and widespread damage. The magnitude 7.0 quake struck Thursday night, claiming at least 16 lives and leaving 65 others injured, with 11 sustaining severe injuries, according to reports from Chinese state media.
The affected area, located approximately 400 kilometers northeast of Lhasa, experienced severe infrastructure damage following the earthquake. Officials reported that 339 homes collapsed in the region and power supplies were disrupted, though electricity was restored to some areas by Friday morning. More than 12,400 residents were relocated from the impacted zones as authorities declared the situation an emergency. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded seven tremors near the epicenter, with the largest measuring 5.2 magnitude at a depth of 10 kilometers, characteristics that typically increase potential damage compared to deeper seismic events.
Rescue and recovery operations faced considerable obstacles due to geographic and climatic challenges. Rockfall in the mountainous terrain forced road closures, complicating access to affected high-altitude communities. Residents spent nights outdoors in subzero temperatures due to fears of aftershocks triggering building collapses, with over 400 aftershocks registered following the initial quake. The epicenter’s location at approximately 4,800 meters elevation presented additional complications for responders.
Government officials mobilized comprehensive disaster response measures. Premier Li Qiang directed urgent action for rescue operations and medical assistance, while the Ministry of Emergency Management deployed a working group to oversee relief efforts. The Chinese government allocated 50 million yuan for disaster relief in the region. Military personnel, firefighters, police and specialist rescue teams mobilized to the area, with drones deployed to survey damage across the plateau landscape.
The earthquake added to a troubling pattern of natural disasters in the region, which experienced a catastrophic flood and landslide event linked to glacier collapse less than two months prior that resulted in over 1,400 deaths across Tibet and Nepal.
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