Tibetan Highland Communities Hit By 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake, Rescue Teams Race To Reach Nagqu

Nagqu, China— A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Tibetan highlands near Nagqu on October 25, 2026, destroying mud-brick homes and forcing rescue teams to battle altitude and cold to reach survivors.

The quake hit at 2:14 a.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The epicenter was in a sparsely populated pastoral area north of Nagqu city, where herder families live in single-story compounds. Shaking woke residents across central Tibet.

State media said at least 18 townships reported collapsed walls and roofs. Power and phone lines were cut. Temperatures were at minus 8 Celsius overnight. Many families fled into yak-hair tents and trucks. They lit dung fires to stay warm while aftershocks rattled the plateau.

The People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command deployed more than 1,200 troops with sniffer dogs and thermal drones. The Ministry of Emergency Management airlifted tents, quilts, and medical kits from Lhasa and Chengdu. Roads were blocked by rockfalls, so the last miles were covered on foot.

A rescuer in Seni District said, "The altitude is 4,500 meters. Machines stall. People get dizzy. We carry beams by hand because trucks cannot pass." Officials said 23 people were pulled from rubble alive by midday. Dozens more were treated for fractures and hypothermia.

Xinhua reported that local hospitals in Nagqu were overwhelmed. The Nagqu People's Hospital set up triage in its parking lot. Doctors worked under floodlights. One surgeon said they had limited blood supply and were calling for donors.

China's central government allocated 100 million yuan for immediate relief and sent Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing to coordinate. The Tibet Autonomous Region government said it will audit building standards for winter homes, many of which are not reinforced for strong lateral shaking.

Tibetan herders are particularly exposed. Their winter homes use heavy earth walls with wooden roofs. Those structures perform poorly in earthquakes. Relief groups said shelter and warm clothing are now as urgent as medical aid.

Aftershocks of 4.5 and 4.9 were recorded by evening. The earthquake administration warned of more strong aftershocks and advised residents not to re-enter damaged buildings. Rescue operations will continue through the night under generator lights.