16 killed, 65 injured as magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Tibet

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet's Baqen County, killing 16 people and injuring 65. Mass evacuations and relief operations are continuing as freezing weather threatens survivors.Stock photo used for illustrationBeijing/lhasa,Oct 23, 2026 12:20 ISTAt least 16 people were killed and 65 injured after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet Autonomous Region, news agency Press Trust of India reported on October 23, citing authorities.More than 12,000 residents were evacuated as search, rescue and relief operations continued. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an extensive search for missing people and prompt treatment for those injured.The shallow earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City at around 10.33 pm local time on Thursday at a depth of less than 10 kilometres.The city's earthquake relief headquarters said on Friday that 11 of the injured were in a serious condition, while 54 had minor injuries. So far, 12,489 residents have been evacuated, while relief work and the resettlement of affected residents are under way, state-run Xinhua news agency reported from Lhasa, the regional capital. More than 330 houses collapsed or were damaged in the earthquake, according to earlier reports. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage.Passenger trains on the affected section of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway resumed operations at reduced speeds on Friday morning, China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co Ltd said. Electricity had been restored to 1,937 households in the earthquake-hit area of Baqen County by 10 am local time on Friday, State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co Ltd said.Relief supplies sent by authorities have reached the affected area. They include 1,000 prefabricated houses, more than 3,200 tents, over 2,800 folding beds and essential items such as quilts, stoves and clothing.The area around the epicentre has an average altitude of more than 4,800 metres. Temperatures are expected to fall to minus nine degrees Celsius over the next three days, while intermittent snowfall is forecast on Saturday in three townships near the epicentre, local weather authorities said.According to PTI, Xi instructed authorities to make every effort to minimise casualties. He also called for close monitoring of earthquake activity and weather conditions to prevent further disasters because of the high altitude and low temperatures.Xi directed officials to arrange proper accommodation for affected residents, quickly repair damaged infrastructure and take steps to protect lives and property. Premier Li Qiang also called for effective disaster prevention and response measures.The Tibetan Plateau is prone to powerful earthquakes because it lies in a region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, causing significant seismic activity.The earthquake has left at least 16 people dead, injured 65 others and forced the evacuation of 12,489 residents, with rescue, relief and resettlement operations continuing amid freezing weather conditions.With PTI Inputs- Ends