Rescuers combed through a remote area in the Chinese region of Tibet on Friday (October 23, 2026) after a magnitude 7 earthquake that killed at least 16 people, injured 54 and collapsed hundreds of homes, according to Chinese state media.
Local railway authorities have taken emergency action to halt trains passing through the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts in rescue operations and medical relief work, issuing instructions Friday morning. The Chinese leader does so only in major disasters and accidents.
As of Friday afternoon (October 23, 2026), rescuers had done three rounds of searches, going through each household, and each village, said Dunzhu, the acting mayor of Nagqu city, said in a press conference. More than 5,000 people from three local counties were deployed for rescue efforts. Supplies, including 2,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,400 tents and 2,000 folding beds, as well as flashlights and winter clothing arrived in the region. ALSO WATCH Watch: Rescue operations continue in Tibet after 7.0-magnitude earthquake China’s official news agency Xinhua said on Friday (October 23, 2026) that communication in some areas hit by the quake was down. The earthquake also caused rockfalls that have forced local authorities to close a section of National Highway 317, allowing only emergency, rescue and official support vehicles through as crews worked to clear debris, according to Xinhua.
Search and rescue efforts are complicated by the geography and low temperatures, officials said.
