On 7 January 2025 at 09:06 CST (UTC+8), an earthquake measuring Mw 7.1 struck Tingri County, located in the Shigatse prefecture-level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of southwestern China.[3] At least 126 people were killed and 337 were injured in the region. The earthquake also injured 13 people in Nepal and caused minor damage in northern India. Shaking was felt across North Asia. The earthquake was the largest in China since the Maduo earthquake in May 2021 and the deadliest since the Jishishan earthquake in December 2023.[4][5] It was caused by normal faulting and originated within the continental crust at 10 km (6.2 mi) depth.[3]
Earthquake
USGS ShakeMap illustrating ground motion around the epicentre
The United States Geological Survey noted that the earthquake measured a moment magnitude (Mw ) of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center documented its magnitude at Ms 6.8. The shock occurred at 10 km (6.2 mi) depth, indicating it occurred within the continental crust that forms the Tibetan Plateau.[6] It was caused by normal faulting with a minor strike-slip component.[7]Focal mechanism solutions indicate that the rupture occurred on a north-south striking fault, dipping moderately to either to the east or west.[3] The epicentre was at Tsogo Township in Tingri County, an area with an average altitude of 4,500 m (14,800 ft).[8] 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.[9]
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 80 km (50 mi) x 20 km (12 mi) was estimated, extending from Ngamring County to southern Tingri County near the border with Nepal.[3] Seismologists at the China Earthquake Networks Center said the mainshock originated within the Lhasa terrane, a crustal block that forms part of the plateau.[10] Geologic activity causes north–south compression and east−west extension within the plateau which are accommodated by faults.[11]
The China Earthquake Administration evaluated that the enture rupture occurred within 24 seconds, releasing a seismic moment estimated at 4.0469 × 1019Nm. The greatest moment release occurred 14 seconds after the rupture initiated. The rupture propagated bilaterally along a normal fault, but most of it was directed northward. The institution also determined that there was a high likelihood of surface rupture.[7] Surface ruptures were later mapped via satellite imagery; they occurred on the eastern shores of Dengme Co lake discontinuously for 11 km (6.8 mi). These ruptures exhibited normal faulting characteristics.[12] The Ministry of Natural Resources projected a 50 km (31 mi) rupture extending to 16 km (9.9 mi) depth by using seismic inversion of InSAR data. Much of the coseismic slip occurred at 1 to 5 km (0.62 to 3.11 mi) depth and a maximum slip of 6 m (20 ft) was Inferred at 1 to 2 km (0.62 to 1.24 mi) depth.[13]
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.[16]Faulting within the plateau is associated with strike-slip and normal mechanisms. The plateau extends in an east–west direction evidenced by north–south striking grabens, strike-slip faulting and GPS data.[17] 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.[18] Seven north–south trending rifts and normal faults were first discovered in southern Tibet during the late 1970s and early 1980s using satellite imagery. They began formation when extension occurred some 8 to 4 milion years ago.[19]
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).[17] A 2010 study in Geophysical Journal International observed within the past 43 years that 85 percent of the seismic moment released during normal faulting earthquakes occurred in areas of more than 4.5 to 5 km (2.8 to 3.1 mi) elevation. This may suggest normal faulting earthquakes are dependent on gravitational potential energy to trigger these ruptures.[17]
Since 1949, 37 earthquakes of Ms 5.0–5.9, 7 of Ms 6.0–6.9, and 1 of Ms 7.0–7.9 have been recorded within 200 km (120 mi) of the epicentre. It was the deadliest earthquake in the immediate area since a Ms 6.6 event occurred in Yadong County on 20 November 1980. That earthquake had an epicenter 176 km (109 mi) away and killed 3 people in the county. The 7 January 2025 earthquake was also the largest in the area since a Ms 7.1 struck 171 km (106 mi) to the south on 26 April 2015.[14]
Impact
The earthquake killed at least 126 people and wounded 337, including 19 in serious condition.[20] More than 27,200 buildings were damaged and 3,612 homes collapsed.[20][21][22] In some villages, 80 to 90 percent of homes were razed.[23]
On 8 January, rescuers said an unknown number of people remained missing as Chinese officials had not provided a figure.[24] The following day, officials said that any remaining missing persons would have likely died of hypothermia beneath the rubble of destroyed homes.[25] Fatalities occurred in Tingri, Lhatse and Sa'gya Counties. More than 1,000 homes collapsed in Tingri County,[26] and five sections of national and provincial roads were damaged by landslides, collapses and subsidence.[27] Altogether, 206 villages across 26 townships in five counties were affected.[20] All 40 homes in the village of Gurong were damaged, half of them severely.[28] In Lhatse County, debris covered streets and vehicles, and a hotel was damaged.[29][30] More than 170 China Mobile stations were disabled by the earthquake, although mobile services were restored nine hours later.[31]
Dawa Tsering of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile speaking to Voice of America, raised doubts about the number of casualties. According to Tsering, national and local government officials underreported and suppressed information from local residents, fearing punishments over sharing knowledge. Earthquake survivors also feared consequences if they spoke out. The latest casualty update was issued on 8 January and no data about missing persons were available. Similarly, Zeng Jianyuan at the Taiwan Association for Human Rights said there are strict communication control and censorship in Tibet, and information may be distorted.[32] On 9 January, the Tibetan Review noted the unchanged casualty figures, and the State Council Information Office in China did not respond to queries by Reuters regarding the death toll.[33] In Estonia, the Riigikogu called for transparency when sharing information among humanitarian groups and journalists.[34]
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.[35][36][37] Near the base camp of Mount Everest, a climber on the mountain's Nepalese side saw avalanches.[24] In Bihar, India, several homes were slightly damaged in Samastipur district.[38] In Bhutan, two avalanches occurred above the Bechung glacier on a mountain in Lunana.[39]
Firefighters and rescuers at the earthquake rescue site in Shigatse
Following the earthquake, more than 14,000 rescue personnel,[42] 340 medical workers,[43] 75 vehicles, four search dogs and 7,030 sets of equipment were dispatched to the epicentre.[44] The China Meteorological Administration issued a level-three emergency alert for the area.[45] 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.[46] 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.[47] The national air force also participated in rescue efforts and sent drones to the area.[48] Air cargo, medical services, ground forces, and helicopters of the Western Theater Command Air Force were deployed.[49]
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.[48] The Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army was also mobilised to assist in relief efforts.[50] The China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application deployed eight satellites to monitor the area.[51] The Mount Qomolangma scenic area was temporarily closed and 530 visitors were evacuated.[52][53]
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.[54] The Chinese government said it would allocate 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) for disaster relief.[21] In Nepal, security forces were deployed to areas affected by the earthquake.[55]
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.[56][57] 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.[58] The initial consignment of over 5,800 cotton tents, garments, quilts, and other central relief supplies has reached the earthquake-affected regions of Tingri County, while the remaining more than 16,000 central relief items arrived in the disaster-impacted areas on 8 January.[59]
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said he was "deeply saddened" over the earthquake and offered prayers for the victims.[60]
Search and rescue efforts ceased on 9 January while authorities began prioritising the displaced,[61] which grew to 61,500 people.[20] They had determined that the chances of survival for those still trapped in the high-elevation and harsh environment were very slim after 48 hours.[61]
Although some private donors gave abundant supplies, local government prevented them from directly distributing to survivors, causing supply bottlenecks and severe shortages of food, tents, and warm clothing. Social media posts and live broadcast documenting the situation, and online pleas for assistance were censored.[62]
^"西藏日喀则市定日县发生6.8级地震" [A 6.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet]. China Earthquake Network (in Chinese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^ ab"2025年1月7日西藏日喀则市定日县6.8级 地震科技支撑简报" [Briefing on the scientific and technological support for the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet on January 7, 2025] (in Chinese). China Earthquake Administration. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^"专家解析西藏日喀则市定日县6.8级地震成因" [Experts analyze the cause of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet]. 新闻频道_央视网(China Central Television) (in Chinese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^Tengfei, Zhang (7 January 2025). "专家：此次定日县地震为拉萨地块的1次能量释放" [Experts: The Dingri County earthquake was an energy release in the Lhasa block]. China Central Television (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^"地球所影像解译西藏定日6.8级地震的地表破裂特征" [Image interpretation of the surface rupture characteristics of the 6.8-magnitude Tingri earthquake in Tibet]. China Earthquake Administration (in Chinese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
^Kai, Yu (8 January 2025). "卫星拍摄西藏定日震区：最大破裂位置较浅，最大位错量达6米" [Satellite images of the earthquake zone in Dingri, Tibet: the largest rupture is shallow, with the largest displacement reaching 6 meters]. The Paper (in Chinese). Sina Finance. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
^ abState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (7 January 2025). "西藏定日县6.8级地震诱发地质灾害预测" [Prediction of geological disasters induced by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Dingri County, Tibet] (in Chinese). Chengdu University of Technology. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^Wu, Zhong-hai; Ye, Pei-sheng; Barosh, Patrick J.; Wu, Zhen-han (2011). "The October 6, 2008 Mw 6.3 magnitude Damxung earthquake, Yadong-Gulu rift, Tibet, and implications for present-day crustal deformation within Tibet". Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 40 (4): 943–957. Bibcode:2011JAESc..40..943W. doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2010.05.003.
^ abcd"西藏強震災民增至6.15萬 3612間房屋倒塌" [Tibet earthquake victims increase to 61,536,12 houses collapsed]. Central News Agency (in Chinese). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
^"西藏6.8级震塌屋数千 至少126死(组图)" [Tibet 6.8 earthquake collapses thousands of buildings, at least 126 dead (photos)]. Ming Pao News Network (in Chinese). Mingshengbao. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
^"西藏6.8级地震已致36人遇难" [6.8-magnitude earthquake in Tibet kills 36 people]. Nanfang Daily. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^"西藏定日受损公路实现单幅通行" [The damaged highway in Tibet's Dingri is now open to traffic]. China Traffic News Network (in Chinese). Ministry of Transport. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
^"西藏强震逾300人伤亡 灾情与信息透明度引关注" [More than 300 people were killed or injured in the Tibet earthquake; the disaster and information transparency have attracted attention]. Voice of America (in Chinese). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
^Jiexi, Su (7 January 2024). "中国气象局启动地震灾害气象服务三级应急响应" [China Meteorological Administration launches Level 3 emergency response for earthquake disaster meteorological services]. China Meteorological Administration (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^"西部战区空军无人机起飞！赴震中勘察情况" [Western Theater Command Air Force drone takes off to investigate the epicenter]. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^"武警西藏总队先头救援力量已抵达震区". ce (in Chinese). 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^Qin, Chen (7 January 2025). "西藏定日县地震已致126人遇难 188人受伤" [The earthquake in Dingri County, Tibet has caused 126 deaths and 188 injuries]. China Central Television (in Chinese). Economic Daily. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^Bin, Xiong; Yu, Gao (10 January 2025). "西藏地震 飢寒交迫的災民求助遭封殺" [Hungry and cold victims of Tibet earthquake are blocked from asking for help]. New Tang Dynasty Television (in Chinese). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
