Tibet Earthquake: At Least 16 Dead as China Deploys Emergency Rescue Teams

Saturday 24 - 11:35

At least 16 people have died after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck a mountainous area of Tibet in southwestern China, triggering building collapses, widespread evacuations and an extensive emergency response. Rescue teams have been deployed to affected communities as authorities work to locate survivors and assess the full extent of the damage.

The earthquake struck at 10:33 p.m. on Thursday in the mountainous area surrounding Baqing district, according to Chinese state media. More than 300 houses were reported to have collapsed or sustained damage, while over 12,000 residents were evacuated from affected areas, the state news agency Xinhua reported.

China Central Television (CCTV) said at least 11 injured people were in critical condition, raising concerns about the potential human toll as rescue operations continued.

Night-time quake catches residents off guard

The tremor struck while many residents were preparing to sleep, leaving little time to react. One local woman described how her home suddenly began shaking and household objects started falling around her.

Surveillance footage circulated by Chinese media and on social networks showed people rushing out of restaurants as buildings shook. Other recordings captured products tumbling from supermarket shelves, illustrating the force of the earthquake.

Emergency workers were also filmed searching through rubble at night, using flashlights to look for signs of life beneath collapsed structures.

The scale of the damage has prompted an urgent response from local authorities, particularly in communities where damaged buildings and difficult access could complicate rescue efforts.

Thousands evacuated from remote mountain communities

The affected region presents significant logistical challenges for emergency services. Situated at an average elevation exceeding 4,500 metres, it is sparsely populated, with settlements spread across a rugged landscape where agriculture and livestock farming are major sources of livelihood.

The area lies hundreds of kilometres from Lhasa, the regional capital, with journeys to some affected locations taking at least 10 hours by road.

Hundreds of firefighters, rescue personnel and police officers have been dispatched or are being sent to the affected districts. According to CCTV, teams are equipped with search dogs, detection devices and equipment designed to extract people trapped beneath debris.

The Chinese military has also joined the response, deploying more than 300 soldiers. Aerial reconnaissance assets, including a drone, have been mobilised to help assess conditions on the ground and identify areas requiring urgent assistance.

Xi Jinping orders emergency response

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the maximum possible rescue effort, according to Xinhua, urging authorities to prioritise the search for survivors and provide medical treatment to the injured.

Xi also highlighted the dangers posed by the region's high altitude and cold temperatures, factors that can increase risks for both survivors awaiting assistance and emergency personnel working outdoors.

He called for close monitoring of weather conditions and potential aftershocks to reduce the likelihood of further disasters.

The immediate priorities remain locating missing residents, stabilising damaged structures and ensuring that injured people receive treatment. The number of confirmed deaths and the extent of the destruction could change as rescue teams reach more isolated communities.

Why Tibet is vulnerable to earthquakes

Tibet is located in a seismically active part of Asia, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. The resulting geological pressure has contributed to the formation of numerous faults, making earthquakes a recurring threat across the wider Himalayan region.

In mountainous areas, the consequences of a major earthquake can extend beyond collapsed buildings. Remote settlements, limited road access, severe weather and the possibility of additional ground movements can make rescue operations more difficult.

For residents affected by the latest disaster, the coming hours will be critical as emergency teams continue searching damaged buildings and authorities work to determine the full scale of the tragedy.