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Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Tibet, Kills at Least 16
· Confirmed
In Short: A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Straits Times (Singapore) reported that the earthquake, which struck at about 10:33pm local time (14:33 GMT) on Thursday, had an epicenter in a mountainous area about 190km east-northeast of Nagqu and 390km northeast of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.
Both outlets noted that the earthquake's epicenter was in a sparsely populated, high-altitude region of northern Tibet, with Nagqu being the closest major city.
Al Jazeera and The Straits Times also reported that local authorities have found at least two people injured in a village near the epicenter, with some houses in villages closest to the epicenter showing cracks.
France 24 (France) and Thenews (Pakistan) reported that the earthquake's magnitude was 7.0, with France 24 citing state media and Thenews citing Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
France 24 noted that the earthquake killed at least 16 people and injured dozens, while Thenews reported that 54 people were injured.
Both France 24 and Thenews highlighted the collapse of at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds, according to local officials.
The Straits Times reported that the earthquake is the strongest to hit China since January 2024, a claim echoed by Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera and The Straits Times also noted that a level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was activated in the area, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Chinese government announced it was allocating 50 million yuan (£5.6m, $7.5m) for disaster relief efforts in Tibet, according to the BBC (United Kingdom).
The earthquake's epicenter was east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated area of northern Tibet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, as reported by Black Hills Pioneer, CBS News, Greater Kashmir, and Jonesboro Sun.
Local residents reported feeling the earthquake strongly, with some homes and buildings sustaining damage, as noted by various outlets.
Despite some variations in the number of injured, all outlets agreed that the earthquake was a magnitude 7.0 event that struck Tibet on Thursday, causing significant damage and casualties.
What this adds
The earthquake's impact on the region's infrastructure and population remains a concern, with ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Background
At least four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
What's confirmed
- Search and rescue efforts were continuing on Friday following the quake, which had an epicentre in Nagqu, a sparsely populated, high-altitude city in northern Tibet.
- Officials report the collapse of at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds.
- The US Geological Survey said that the earthquake’s epicentre was in a mountainous area about 190km east-northeast of Nagqu and 390km northeast of Tibetan capital Lhasa.
- The earthquake is the strongest to hit China since January 2024.
- A level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was activated in the area, Xinhua news agency said.
- This is the biggest earthquake in the area in five years, according to China's national broadcaster.
- TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A strong earthquake struck Tibet in southwestern China on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others, Chinese state media reported.
- “We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared,” Rosendo Domínguez, 60, who is from Herrera province, where the earthquake struck, told The Associated Press by phone.
- A powerful earthquake struck southern Panama at 10:56 am PT (1:56 pm ET, 7:56 am in Hawaii).
What's still developing
- Reports vary, suggesting up to 65 people have been injured.
- Li noted that the earthquake-hit area is at a high altitude around 4,800 metres and prone to aftershocks.
- “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said of James in a social media post sharing the video.
- Classes were canceled nationwide, the main international airport shut temporarily, and buildings emptied across Panama on Friday after a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 jolted the south of the country, according to the US Geological Survey.
- Oct 9, 2026, 12:03 PM | Updated: 12:06 pm Photo of a map documenting the 7.6-magnitude earthquake near Panama. (Photo courtesy of USGS) A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings as far away as the capital and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
- A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred Friday near the southern coast of Panama, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- The initial earthquake was centered about 6 miles southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panama’s southern tip, the USGS said.