Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Tibet, casualties reported
Houses collapsed and power and phone services were cut after a strong quake struck a mountainous part of China's Tibet region late on Thursday.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet region late on Thursday, and local authorities say there are casualties, The Hindu reported, citing the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Xinhua did not say how many people were affected, or whether the casualties were deaths or injuries.
The quake hit at 10.33pm local time (1433 GMT). The US Geological Survey put the epicentre in mountainous terrain about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the regional capital.
Xinhua placed the epicentre in Maru township, in Baqen county. The township's deputy head, Lhawang Dagpo, told the agency the shaking was clearly felt at the township office, where cracks appeared in the walls.
Xinhua said houses had collapsed in the area, and that power and telecommunications services were cut in the county seat.
According to an earlier Xinhua report, authorities activated a level-II earthquake disaster emergency response for the area. Workers have been sent to coordinate the response, and local officials were checking nearby villages.
Earthquakes are relatively common in China. In January 2025, a quake in Tibet's rural Tingri county killed at least 126 people.
This report is based on reporting by The Hindu: Casualties reported after 7.0 quake strikes China’s Tibet: State media.
