The quake left 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, according to the Nagqu media office. Over 1,600 local residents were deployed for rescue efforts, and supplies including 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,000 tents, and winter clothing have been sent to the area. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicenter 119 miles east-northeast of Nagqu.

A level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was activated, and authorities have deployed police and emergency crews to build tents for displaced residents. Rockfall has blocked roads in the region, complicating rescue operations. Local state media released videos showing people fleeing their homes and seeking shelter in the streets or in their cars.

Among the injured, 11 were reported in serious condition and 21 sustained minor injuries, according to Xinhua.

The earthquake is the strongest to hit China since January 2024 and the most powerful in the region in five years, according to CCTV. Tibet is a seismically active region, with a history of devastating quakes. In 2010, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake in Qinghai province killed at least 2,698 people. In January 2025, a 6.2 magnitude quake in Tingri county killed 126 people.

The USGS reported the earthquake’s depth at 11 miles, while CENC put it at 6.2 miles. A string of smaller tremors of magnitude 3 and 4 were recorded in surrounding regions after the main event.

Local residents reported being woken by the strong tremors and hearing their homes creak under the strain. The quake was clearly felt in the local area, according to CENC. The region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and its history of seismic activity highlight the ongoing challenges for communities in this remote, high-altitude area.