Tibet earthquake toll holds at 16 as injuries rise to 76

2026-10-24 · Climate · China

A magnitude-7 earthquake struck Nagqu in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, killing 16 people and injuring 76, local authorities said at a press conference on Friday, with the death toll unchanged from earlier reports while injuries rose. The quake destroyed hundreds of homes, was followed by at least seven aftershocks and was the strongest to hit China since January 2024. Search and rescue efforts continued in the remote northern area. The quake struck at a shallow depth in a sparsely populated high-altitude region, complicating access for rescue teams.

Why it matters：A strong quake in a remote, high-altitude region strains rescue logistics, and its scale underscores exposure to seismic risk in western China.

Key points

• Magnitude-7 quake centred in Nagqu, Tibet
• 16 dead and 76 injured, with hundreds of homes destroyed
• At least seven aftershocks were recorded

Sources (original reporting)

• The Guardian
• The Straits Times
• NHK

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