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2025 Tibet earthquake

Collapsed and damaged homes in Tingri County
UTC time	2025-01-07 01:05:16
USGS-ANSS	ComCat
Local date	7 January 2025 (2025-01-07)
Local time	09:05 CST (UTC+8)
Magnitude	Mw 7.1 Ms 6.8
Depth	10.0 km (6.2 mi)
Epicenter	28°38′20″N 87°21′40″E / 28.639°N 87.361°E / 28.639; 87.361
Type	Normal
Areas affected	Tibet Autonomous Region, Nepal, North India
Max. intensity	CSIS IX
Aftershocks	150+ Strongest: mb  5.1
Casualties	126 fatalities, 201 injuries

On 7 January 2025 at 09:04 CST (UTC+8), an earthquake measuring M_w 7.1 or M_s 6.8 struck Tingri County, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of southwestern China. At least 126 people were killed while 188 others were injured in the region. The earthquake injured 13 people in Nepal, and also caused minor damage in northern India, with strong tremors felt across South Asia. It was the largest earthquake in China since January 2024 and the deadliest since December 2023.

Tectonic setting

The Tibetan plateau attains its high elevation due to crustal thickening caused by the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate, creating the Himalayas. Faulting within the plateau is associated with strike-slip and normal mechanisms. The plateau extends in an east–west direction along evidenced by north–south striking grabens, strike-slip faulting and GPS data. In the northern region, strike-slip faulting constitutes the dominant style of tectonics while in the south, the dominant tectonic domain is east-west extension on north–south trending normal faults.

The largest earthquakes in Tibet, with magnitudes of 8.0 or similar, occur along strike-slip faults. Normal faulting earthquakes are smaller in magnitudes; in 2008, five normal faulting earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.9 to 7.1 occurred in various locations across the plateau. These earthquakes occurred on faults with dip angles of 40 to 50 degrees and extended to a depth of 10 to 15 km (6.2 to 9.3 mi).

A 2010 study in Geophysical Journal International observed within the past 43 years, 85 percent of seismic moment released during normal faulting occurred in areas of more than 5 km (3.1 mi) elevation. This may suggest normal faulting earthquakes are dependent on gravitational potential energy to trigger these ruptures.

Earthquake

The United States Geological Survey said that the earthquake measured a moment magnitude (M_ww ) of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported its magnitude at M_s 6.8. It occurred as a result of normal faulting within the Tibetan Plateau. Focal mechanism solutions indicate that the rupture occurred on a north-south striking fault, dipping moderately to either to the east or west. The epicenter was located at Tsogo Township in Tingri County, an area with an average altitude of 4,500 m (14,800 ft). Moment magnitude and surface wave magnitude (Ms) are two slightly different ways to measure the strength of an earthquake; moment magnitude is more recently developed to measure total energy released by the earthquake.

Modelling of the rupture by the United States Geological Survey revealed motion along a north–northeast striking fault dipping west–northwest or north–northwest striking fault dipping east–northeast. In both solutions, co-seismic slip occurred for about 80 km (50 mi) along strike and extended to 20 km (12 mi) depth. The maximum slip in these solutions were 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) and 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in), respectively. A rupture area of about 105 km (65 mi) x 20 km (12 mi) was estimated, extending from Ngamring County to southern Tingri County near the border with Nepal. Seismologists at the China Earthquake Networks Center said the mainshock originated within the Lhasa terrane, a crustal block that forms part of the plateau. Geologic activity causes north–south compression and east−west extension within the plateau which are accommodated by faults.

Intensity

The Chengdu University of Technology reported a maximum China seismic intensity scale of IX, which was recorded in six townships within an area of 671 km (259 sq mi), including Chamso, Cogo, Gyaco and Qulho Township. Intensity VIII was felt in Dinggyê, Lhatse and Sa'gya Counties within a 2,917 km (1,126 sq mi) area.

The tremor was widely felt in much of South Asia, reaching Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, approximately 400 km (250 miles) from the epicenter, where residents fled their homes in fear. Strong shaking was also experienced in areas near Mount Everest, including Lobuche and Namche. The earthquake's effects extended to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, as well as the northern Indian states of Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal, as well as in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka and other parts of the country. Over 150 aftershocks followed the main tremor.

Impact

The earthquake killed at least 126 people, injured 188, and collapsed more than 3,600 homes in Tibet. Fatalities occurred in Tingri County, Lhatse County and Sa'gya County. More than 1,000 homes collapsed in Tingri county. In Lhatse County, debris covered streets and vehicles, and a hotel was damaged. More than 170 China Mobile stations were disabled by the earthquake, although mobile services were restored nine hours later. In Nepal, 13 people were injured, including 11 in Bara, and one each from Kavrepalanchok and Kathmandu. Two homes were destroyed, and 12 others and a police station were damaged across the country. In Bihar, India, several homes were slightly damaged in Samastipur district.

Response

Following the earthquake, more than 3,400 rescue personnel, 340 medical workers 75 vehicles, four search dogs and 7,030 sets of equipment were dispatched to the epicentre. The China Meteorological Administration issued a level-three emergency alert for the area. To prevent further casualties during potential aftershocks, residents were evacuated. Local officials also allocated resources from the transport, water and village administrative departments to aid in rescue efforts. The State Council's Earthquake Relief Command [zh] and the Ministry of Emergency Management, in conjunction with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, distributed 22,000 units of centralised relief supplies, including cotton tents, cotton coats, quilts, and folding beds, as well as specialised relief materials for high-cold and high-altitude regions to the affected areas. Temperatures in the area at the time of the earthquake were estimated to have been −8 °C (18 °F), and were expected to fall to −16 °C (3 °F) by night. The Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army was also mobilised to assist in relief efforts. The China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application deployed eight satellites to monitor the area. The Mount Qomolangma scenic area was temporarily closed, with 530 visitors being evacuated.

Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, "ordered all-out rescue efforts". He urged the relevant bodies to treat the injured, repair damaged infrastructure, and relocate those displaced. The Chinese government said it would allocate 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) for disaster relief. In Nepal, security forces were deployed to areas affected by the earthquake.

At 14:00 on 7 January, 30 officers and soldiers from the People's Armed Police Tibet Contingent arrived in the earthquake-affected region of Shigatse, while 359 other officers and soldiers hastened to the disaster zone. By the evening, China Central Television reported that more than 400 people were rescued, 14 housing areas were established, and at least 30,400 were relocated. All damaged roads were also reopened.

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said he was "deeply saddened" over the earthquake and offered prayers for the victims.

See also

• List of earthquakes in 2025
• List of earthquakes in China
• List of earthquakes in Nepal

References

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v t e Earthquakes in Nepal
1505 Lo Mustang 1833 Bihar–Nepal 1934 Nepal–India 1980 Nepal 1988 Nepal 2011 Sikkim April 2015 aftershocks May 2015 2016 Imphal 2016 Kani November 2022 November 2023 2025 Tibet
Category

v t e Shigatse (Xigazê)
County-level divisions	District Samzhubzê Counties Bainang Dinggyê Gamba Gyantse Gyirong Kangmar Lhatse Namling Ngamring Nyalam Rinbung Sa'gya Saga Tingri Xaitongmoin Yadong Zhongba
Settlements	Bangxing Cazê Chagna Congdü Dêlêg Dhingri Gyantse Lhatse Lingma Mêmo Nailung Namling Nyalam Pama Pazhug Pagri (Phari) Raka Ramba Rongbuk Monastery Rongxar Samzhubzê Surco Shelkar Zhangmu
Landmarks	Changmoche Monastery Chokorgyel Monastery Daklha Gampo Donggar Monastery Dorje Pakmo Drongtse Monastery Garju Monastery Manmogang Monastery Menri Monastery Milarepa's Cave Narthang Monastery Ngor Palcho Monastery Ralung Monastery Sakya Monastery Shalu Monastery Tashilhunpo Tsi Nesar Shigatse Mosque
Geography	Lake Ang Laren Lake Dajia Lake Jiesa Lake Renqingxiubu Lake Taruo Lake Nyingchiinsha Samdang Khamsang Bukhangri Yarlung Tsangpo Nangchu River Mountains Everest Nathu La Pass Shishapangma Glacier Jombo Glacier Karola Glacier Disasters 2025 Tingri earthquake
Transport	Shigatse Peace Airport Lhasa–Shigatse Railway China–Nepal Railway China–Nepal Friendship Highway Dazhuka Railway Station Denggu Railway Station Jiqiong Railway Station Kadui Railway Station Rinbung Railway Station Shigatse Railway Station G219 G318 S203 S204 S206 S304 S307
Economy & Development	Bainang Vegetable Production Base One River, Two Rivers Project Shigatse Photovoltaic Power Plant Manla Water Conservancy Hub Project Laluo Water Conservancy Project Xianghe Water Conservancy Hub Project
Hotels & Parks	Shigatse Hotel Gyangtse Hotel
Sciences	Ngari Networking Project

• 2025 earthquakes
• 2025 in Tibet
• 2025 disasters in China
• 2025 disasters in Nepal
• January 2025 events in China
• Earthquakes in China
• Earthquakes in Nepal
• Earthquakes in Tibet
• Tingri County