Nagqu Rebuild: 1,600 Workers Mobilize After 7.0 Quake

A magnitude-7 earthquake struck northern Tibet on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54. The tremor destroyed 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds in and around Nagqu, the regional capital. The US Geological Survey recorded the event at 10:33 pm local time, with the epicenter located 119 miles east-northeast of the city at a depth of 11 miles.

Local authorities have deployed more than 1,600 workers to the site to clear debris and assist in search and rescue operations. Xinhua reported that over 300 police officers were sent for relief work, while regional fire and rescue services dispatched nearly 350 personnel. The scale of the mobilization reflects the immediate logistical challenge of restoring order in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area.

The disaster has disrupted key transportation and communication infrastructure. A section of national highway 317 is closed due to rockfalls, with only emergency and support vehicles permitted to pass. Local railway authorities halted trains passing through the region, and communications remain down in parts of the affected zone. Intermittent snow is forecast for the next three days, adding a weather-related constraint to the recovery efforts.

Supplies are being rushed to the area to support the displaced population. The response includes 1,000 prefabricated housing units and approximately 3,000 tents. Additional goods sent to Nagqu include folding beds, torches, and winter clothing. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in the rescue operation and medical relief work, directing the focus toward immediate stabilization.

CCTV described the event as the largest earthquake in the region in the past five years. Footage released by the broadcaster showed goods falling from supermarket shelves and workers exiting restaurants as the ground shook. The US Geological Survey logged at least seven aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.2, each at a depth of 6 miles. The agency noted the tremors occurred in a high-altitude zone where seismic activity is common.

Nagqu sits more than 185 miles north of Lhasa. The region has experienced major seismic events in recent years. In January 2025, a quake in Tingri county killed at least 126 people. A previous major disaster occurred in December 2023 in Gansu province, where at least 134 people died. State media identified that event as the deadliest in China since 2014. The current recovery effort continues as crews work to reopen roads and distribute winter gear.