Tibet earthquake: at least 16 dead and 54 injured

At least 16 people have died and 54 have been injured in a powerful earthquake in northern Tibet, a region controlled by China. The tremor struck on Thursday 22 October 2026.

What we know about the earthquake

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the epicentre was in Baqen county in Nagqu prefecture. It is a mountainous area more than 4,800 metres above sea level, about 400 kilometres north of Lhasa. The tremor had a magnitude of 7. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), it struck at 22:33 local time.

Chinese agencies said the hypocentre was at a depth of 10 kilometres. American data put it at 18 kilometres. The main shock was followed by aftershocks of around magnitude 3–4. CENC said it was the strongest earthquake in China since 2024.

Casualties and damage

On Friday 23 October 2026, the regional emergency management centre said 16 people had died. Eleven of the 54 injured are in a serious condition. Local authorities said about 359 homes had collapsed and more than 300 farm buildings had been damaged.

More than 1,600 rescuers have been deployed for the search and rescue effort. They are also providing medical care to those affected. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all possible efforts to help residents. Media report communication problems in parts of the region.

The quake hit a sparsely populated area, as BBC also describes.

A region prone to tremors

Tibet lies where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and is highly seismically active. In January 2025, an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 there killed at least 126 people.

The death toll may change as the rescue operation progresses.