Tibet Seismic Event: 16 Dead, 339 Homes Destroyed

A magnitude 7 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people and injuring 46 others. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the tremor at 10:33 p.m. local time with an epicenter 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu at a depth of 18 kilometers. Local authorities confirmed that 11 of the injured are in serious condition, while 35 have minor injuries.

The Nagqu media office reported that at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. Search and rescue operations are currently underway. More than 1,600 personnel from the local county have been deployed to the site. Relief supplies have been delivered to the area, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing.

Xinhua reported on Friday that communications remain down in parts of the region. Railway authorities halted train traffic through the affected zone to ensure safety. Officials closed a section of National Highway 317 following rockfalls triggered by the quake. Only emergency, rescue, and official support vehicles are permitted to pass while crews clear debris from the road.

Meteorological forecasts indicate intermittent snow over the next three days in the quake zone. China's national broadcaster CCTV identified this as the largest earthquake in the region in the past five years. Nagqu is located more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the regional capital.

The event occurred in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area. Local government officials are coordinating the response with relief crews. The death toll remains at 16 as of Thursday night reporting.