7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County, northern Tibet on Oct 22 night, killing at least 16 and flattening 339 homes. 1,600+ rescuers, 3,000 tents on the ground.
Updated: October 23, 2026, 10:30 IST
Quick Read
- A 7.0-magnitude quake hit Baqen County, Nagqu city, Tibet at 10:33 pm local time (8:03 pm IST) on October 22. State broadcaster CCTV called it China’s strongest earthquake since January 2024.
- At least 16 people are dead. Xinhua reports 32 injured — 11 serious, 21 minor — but the figures are preliminary and may change.
- 339 homes and 20 sheds collapsed. Over 1,600 rescuers, 3,000 tents and 1,000 prefabricated homes have been rushed in.
A strong earthquake hit Tibet late on October 22, killing at least 16 people. The 7.0-magnitude quake struck Baqen County in Nagqu city, northern Tibet, at 10:33 pm local time — 8:03 pm in India. China’s state broadcaster CCTV said it was the strongest earthquake to hit China since January 2024.
What the readings say
China’s earthquake centre measured the quake at magnitude 7.0, with a depth of 10 km. The US Geological Survey put the depth slightly deeper, at 18 km. The epicentre — the point on the surface directly above where the quake began — was about 191 km east-north-east of Nagqu town.
Depth matters a lot here. A quake starting just 10 km below the surface is called shallow, and shallow quakes shake the ground above them much harder than deep ones. That is a big reason a 7.0 at this depth can bring down houses across a wide area, even in a remote region.
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Dead, injured and homes destroyed
At least 16 people were killed, according to Xinhua. The injury count is still moving: Xinhua reports 32 injured, with 11 in serious condition and 21 with minor injuries. Some other wire services are citing higher injury numbers. Treat every figure except the confirmed 16 deaths as preliminary — rescue teams are still reaching remote villages, and the numbers will change as they do.
The damage on the ground is extensive. 339 homes and 20 sheds have collapsed. Rail services in the region were stopped, and part of National Highway 317 was closed, Xinhua reported. In a high mountain region, a blocked highway can slow everything — food, tents, medical help.
The rescue effort
More than 1,600 rescue workers have been sent to the area. Authorities have moved in 3,000 tents and 1,000 prefabricated housing units for families whose homes are gone. Night quakes in Tibet are especially dangerous: the ground shook after 10:30 pm, when most families were already asleep.
What is still unclear
The injury count will almost certainly move over the next 24 hours. The first numbers after any major quake are usually the lowest — villages cut off by blocked roads get counted last. This story will be updated as official figures come in.
FAQ
- When and where did the Tibet earthquake strike?
The 7.0-magnitude quake struck Baqen County in Nagqu city, northern Tibet, at 10:33 pm local time on October 22 (8:03 pm IST). The epicentre was about 191 km east-north-east of Nagqu town. - How many people died and were injured?
At least 16 people were killed. Xinhua reports 32 injured — 11 serious, 21 minor — but the injury figures are preliminary and may rise as rescue teams reach more villages. - How strong was this earthquake?
It measured 7.0 and was shallow — 10 km deep per China’s earthquake centre, 18 km per the US Geological Survey. CCTV called it the strongest earthquake in China since January 2024. Shallow quakes shake the surface much harder than deep ones, which is why the damage is so heavy.
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