Latest Casualties and Damage

At least 16 people were killed and 32 others injured when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday (10/22/2026) night local time, according to Chinese state media cited by CNN, NDTV, and Reuters. The official figures were released by the Nagqu city media office, citing municipal government officials.

A total of 339 homes reportedly collapsed due to the shaking, and rescue teams from police and fire departments continue setting up emergency tents to shelter displaced residents. The overall extent of the damage is still being assessed by local authorities.

Level II Emergency Response

The China Earthquake Administration activated a Level II emergency response — the country's second-highest tier. Railway authorities suspended train services passing through the affected area, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV (China Central Television).

The main shock struck at 10:33 p.m. local time, with an epicenter roughly 183–191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu city, in a plateau region with an average elevation exceeding 4,800 meters. A magnitude 5.2 aftershock was recorded about 45 minutes later, according to data from the USGS (United States Geological Survey).

Strongest Earthquake Since January 2024

This earthquake is the strongest to hit China since an M7.1 quake struck a remote mountainous area of Xinjiang in January 2024, which killed three people and injured dozens of others. In December 2023, more than a hundred people died when an earthquake hit Jishishan County in Gansu Province — China's deadliest disaster in nearly a decade.