Magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16 and collapses hundreds of homes

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet region at 10:33 p.m. local time on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and collapsing at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds around the northern city of Nagqu, official media reported. The U.S. Geological Survey put the epicenter 119 miles east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area, and recorded at least seven aftershocks of magnitude 4.3 to 5.2. Reported injuries ranged from 32 to 54. More than 1,600 people were deployed to search and rescue, and about 1,000 prefabricated housing units and 3,000 tents and folding beds arrived. Xinhua said communications were down in some areas, and railway authorities halted trains through the region. CCTV called it the region's biggest quake in five years.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. Left-leaning CBS and The Guardian lead with the toll and damage. CBS adds the differing depth estimates and the flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border less than two months earlier, while The Guardian details rescue supplies and aftershocks. AP repeats the official-media figures and rescue efforts, and Al Jazeera focuses on surveillance video and calls it China's strongest quake since January 2024.