Tibet Shelters as Strong Quake Flattens Homes in Nagqu

Rescue crews are working against the clock in northern Tibet after a violent magnitude 7 earthquake struck on Thursday evening, leaving at least 16 people dead and more than 40 others wounded. The tremor triggered a wave of structural failures in the region, with the most severe destruction centered around the city of Nagqu. Officials confirmed that hundreds of residences were reduced to rubble, leaving residents without shelter in the cold mountain air.

Local authorities have released detailed figures on the destruction. The Nagqu media office stated that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed completely. Among the 46 injured, 11 individuals are in serious condition, while the remaining 35 sustained minor injuries. Search and rescue teams are still combing the area to ensure no survivors are trapped under the wreckage.

A massive logistical effort is underway to support the affected population. More than 1,600 personnel from the local county have been mobilized to join the rescue operations. Relief supplies have begun arriving at the site, including 1,000 prefabricated housing units. Additionally, crews have distributed approximately 3,000 tents and folding beds, along with essential items like flashlights and winter clothing to help families stay warm.

The disaster has disrupted critical infrastructure, complicating the relief effort. Xinhua, the state news agency, reported that communication networks are down in parts of the region. Railway authorities implemented emergency protocols to halt train traffic in the affected zone. A section of National Highway 317 was closed after the quake triggered rockfalls. Currently, only emergency and official support vehicles are permitted to pass while crews clear the debris from the road.

Weather conditions are expected to make the recovery process more difficult. Meteorologists predict intermittent snow across the quake zone for the next three days. This adds a layer of complexity to the already challenging high-altitude rescue work. The event has been identified by China's national broadcaster CCTV as the largest earthquake to hit the region in the past five years.

The U.S. Geological Survey provided specific data on the seismic event. The earthquake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time with a depth of 18 kilometers. The epicenter was located 191 kilometers east-northeast of Nagqu. This area is sparsely populated and sits at a high elevation in northern Tibet. Nagqu itself is situated more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan region.