Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered comprehensive emergency response and rescue operations following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Baqen County in Nagqu City, in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, on Thursday night, October 22, 2026.
According to local authorities, the earthquake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time, leaving at least 16 people dead and 65 injured. Emergency teams have been mobilised to search for missing people, provide medical treatment to the injured and assist residents affected by the disaster.
Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for every possible effort to minimise casualties and ensure that those affected receive timely assistance. He emphasised the urgency of rescue operations and the need to protect lives and property.
The Chinese president also highlighted the difficult conditions facing the affected communities, noting that the region’s high altitude and low temperatures pose additional challenges for rescue workers and displaced residents. He instructed authorities to closely monitor seismic activity and weather conditions to reduce the risk of secondary disasters.
Emergency measures include providing temporary accommodation for affected families, restoring damaged infrastructure and ensuring that essential services remain accessible. Images from Baqen County showed local officials and residents setting up emergency tents on the playground of an elementary school to provide shelter.
Premier Li Qiang also called for effective disaster prevention and response measures, while China’s Ministry of Emergency Management and authorities in Xizang mobilised personnel and resources for relief operations.
The earthquake has placed renewed attention on the challenges of emergency response in remote, high-altitude communities, where difficult terrain, cold weather and infrastructure constraints can complicate access to affected areas. Rapid coordination between rescue teams, medical services and local authorities remains essential to supporting survivors and preventing further casualties.
As rescue and relief operations continue, authorities are prioritising the safety of residents, the treatment of the injured and the provision of emergency shelter and essential supplies.
Source: Xinhua News Agency / CGTN
