Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16 as rescue efforts continue

The Times of India reported that 32 people were injured, including 11 who were seriously hurt and 21 with minor injuries. The South China Morning Post gave a higher figure of 54 injured. The available evidence does not establish a single authoritative final injury total, so both figures remain part of the record.

According to the Times of India, which cited the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time. The same report said its epicentre was approximately 191 kilometres east-north-east of Nagqu and that hundreds of homes were damaged. It reported that at least 339 homes had collapsed, citing local government officials.

The Times of India reported that police, fire personnel and rescue teams were working to rescue people and provide temporary shelter to residents who had lost their homes. Rescue teams were also putting up tents to accommodate people displaced by the earthquake.

The affected area presents difficult conditions for emergency operations. The South China Morning Post, EL PAÍS and the Times of India described it as a high-altitude region with cold conditions and a sparse population. Those descriptions provide the documented setting for the rescue and shelter work, but the supplied reports do not establish the full extent of the damage beyond the details attributed to the Times of India.

The South China Morning Post reported that President Xi Jinping ordered urgent relief after the earthquake. According to that report, he directed efforts toward searching for and rescuing survivors, treating injured people and preventing secondary disasters. The report also referred to monitoring seismic activity and weather changes while adapting rescue operations to the conditions.

The death toll of at least 16 was consistent across the supplied reporting, including accounts from the Times of India, the South China Morning Post, EL PAÍS and India Today. The injury figures were not consistent, however, and the reports supplied no final consolidated count. That distinction is important as rescue and relief work continues in the affected area.

EL PAÍS described the earthquake as the most powerful recorded in China since January 2024. That characterization is attributed to the publication; the supplied evidence does not provide a broader comparison or additional detail about earlier earthquakes.