official (US Geological Survey, event us6000u43g and PAGER, Oct 22; China Earthquake Networks Center and Xizang authorities as reported by Xinhua, Oct 22)
An M7.0 earthquake strikes the Tibetan Plateau, and USGS says the damage may be widespread
It struck at night. USGS says some casualties are possible and the disaster is potentially widespread, and Chinese authorities say there are casualties.
Key facts
- Magnitude
- M7.0 (Mww), reviewed (USGS). China Earthquake Networks Center also gives 7.0 (via Xinhua)
- Time
- Oct 22, 14:33:40 UTC; 10:33 AM ET; 10:33 PM local (USGS)
- Location
- 191 km east northeast of Nagqu, China, on the Tibetan Plateau; Xinhua, citing local authorities, places it in Baqen County, with the epicenter at Maru Township
- Depth
- 18 km (USGS); 10 km (China Earthquake Networks Center, via Xinhua)
- PAGER
- Orange alert for economic losses: significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Yellow alert for fatalities: some casualties are possible (USGS)
- Shaking
- About 111,000 people experienced moderate (MMI V) to severe (MMI VIII) shaking (USGS, updated Oct 22 16:52 UTC)
- Buildings
- Mostly vulnerable types in the region, including adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud (USGS PAGER)
- Response
- Xizang activated a Level II earthquake emergency response; the State Council earthquake relief headquarters office and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level IV response (via Xinhua)
- Aftershocks
- USGS lists M5.2, M5 and M4.9 events nearby since the main shock and says aftershocks, some with strong shaking, may follow
Significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.
US Geological Survey, PAGER orange alert for economic losses, Oct 22
Note
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Tibetan Plateau at 10:33 PM local time on Thursday, October 22, the US Geological Survey says. The epicenter was 191 km east northeast of Nagqu, China, at a depth of 18 km.
USGS's PAGER system issued an orange alert for economic losses and a yellow alert for fatalities. It says significant damage is likely, some casualties are possible, and the disaster is potentially widespread. About 111,000 people experienced moderate to severe shaking, USGS estimates, and most buildings in the region are adobe block or unreinforced brick with mud.
Xinhua, citing local authorities, reports casualties after the quake in Baqen County of Nagqu, with reports of collapsed houses, cracked walls at the Maru Township office, and power and telecommunications cut in the county seat. It gave no figures. The China Earthquake Networks Center measured the quake at 7.0 and 10 km deep, Xinhua says.
Xizang activated a Level II earthquake emergency response, and China's Ministry of Emergency Management and the State Council earthquake relief headquarters office activated a Level IV response and sent a work team, according to Xinhua.
USGS has already recorded aftershocks up to M5.2 and says more, some with strong shaking, may follow. It is still night there.
Why it matters
The quake struck at night in a region where USGS says most buildings are adobe block or unreinforced brick with mud, the kinds that fail in strong shaking, and both USGS and Chinese authorities now point to casualties.
Sources
- US Geological Survey: M 7.0, 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China, event us6000u43g (Oct 22 2026)
- US Geological Survey: PAGER assessment for us6000u43g (Oct 22 2026)
- Xinhua: Casualties reported after 7.0-magnitude quake hits China's Xizang (Oct 22 2026)
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
More: Earthquakes
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