Three villages within 5 km of epicenter; strongest quake in the area in 5 years

An earthquake strikes Tibet, China. [Yonhap]
An earthquake strikes Tibet, China. [Yonhap]

A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck the Tibet Autonomous Region in western China.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center, reported Thursday that the quake hit Baqing County in Nagqu, Tibet, at 10:33 p.m. (local time).

The China Earthquake Networks Center initially reported the quake at around magnitude 6.7 based on automatic measurements taken immediately after the event, but later revised the figure to 7.0 following formal analysis. The epicenter was located at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.

Xinhua said three villages — Lengda, Puqin and Gaizaka — lie within 5 kilometers of the epicenter, while Gangti Township and Malu Township are within 20 kilometers.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center's earthquake bulletin records, 54 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater have occurred within 200 kilometers of the epicenter over the past five years, making Thursday's quake the largest in the area during that period.

As of 2:25 a.m. Friday (local time), 11 of the injured were in serious condition and 21 had sustained minor injuries, while more than 300 homes had collapsed, Xinhua reported. Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage as relief operations are underway.


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