At least 16 dead in Tibet quake

BEIJING: At least 16 people were killed and 32 others injured when a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China's remote Tibet region, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing local authorities.

More than 300 houses collapsed in the earthquake, which struck on Thursday at 10.33pm (1433 GMT). Officials were still assessing the damage, and disaster relief work was ongoing, Xinhua said.

The quake's epicentre was in a mountainous area about 190km east-northeast of Nagqu and 390km northeast of the regional capital, Lhasa, the US Geological Survey said.

It struck at a shallow depth of 10km.

A level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was activated in the area, Xinhua said.

The epicentre was located in Maru township in Baqen county. Township deputy head Lhawang Dagpo said the quake was clearly felt at the township office, which sustained cracks in its walls, according to Xinhua.

Power and telecommunications services were disrupted in the county seat, the agency said.

Earthquakes are relatively common in China.

In January 2025, at least 126 people were killed in an earthquake in Tibet's rural Tingri county.