Rescuers Deploy to Nagqu After Deadly Tremor

Authorities in northern Tibet mobilized more than 1,600 local personnel to assist with rescue operations on Friday following a powerful earthquake. The deployment includes over 300 police officers and nearly 350 firefighters, according to reports from Xinhua. These teams are working to clear debris and aid survivors in the area surrounding Nagqu.

The tremor occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time on Thursday, the US Geological Survey reported. Its epicenter was located 119 miles east-northeast of Nagqu at a depth of 11 miles. The agency recorded at least seven aftershocks between magnitudes 4.3 and 5.2, each occurring at a depth of six miles.

Chinese official media stated that the quake killed at least 16 people and injured 54. The Nagqu media office said city government officials confirmed the collapse of 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds. Search and rescue operations remained active as crews navigated damaged structures.

Logistical challenges have emerged in the aftermath. Local railway authorities halted train service through the region as a precaution. Rockfalls closed a section of national highway 317, restricting passage to emergency and official vehicles while crews remove debris. Communications outages affected some parts of the zone, and intermittent snow is forecast for the next three days.

Supplies have been rushed to the affected areas, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents, folding beds, torches, and winter clothing. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out effort in the rescue and medical relief operations.

Nagqu is situated more than 185 miles north of Lhasa, the regional capital. CCTV described the event as the largest quake in the area in five years. The region experiences frequent seismic activity; a January 2025 earthquake in Tingri county killed at least 126 people, while a December 2023 tremor in Gansu province claimed at least 134 lives.