Two 4.4 Magnitude Earthquakes Hit China and Tibet After Deadly 7.0 Tremors

Two magnitude 4.4 earthquakes struck China and Tibet on Friday after a powerful magnitude 7.0 tremor killed 16 people and injured 32. Rescue teams have been mobilised as aftershocks continue.

Post Published By: DN Bureau

Updated : 23 October 2026, 9:16 AM IST

Fresh 4.4-magnitude tremors were recorded in China and Tibet following the deadly earthquake (Img: Pinterest)

Lhasa/Ngaqu:  China and Tibet experienced fresh seismic activity on Friday morning, with two 4.4-magnitude tremors reported hours after a powerful  7.0 magnitude earthquake in southwestern China claimed 16 lives and left 32 people injured, according to NCS and Chinese state media. The fresh tremors have raised concerns about continued seismic activity in the region as rescue teams move towards affected areas.

EQ of M: 4.4, On: 23/10/2026 06:05:13 IST, Lat: 32.542 N, Long: 93.835 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: China.

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According to reports, earthquake was the strongest to hit the region in the past five years.

Two 4.4 Magnitude Tremors Recorded

According to the NCS, an earthquake measuring 4.4 in magnitude struck China at 6:05 am IST on Friday at a depth of 15 kilometres. A second 4.4-magnitude earthquake was detected in Tibet at 5:54 am IST, originating at a depth of 15 kilometres. The earlier and more powerful earthquake struck northern Tibet at around 10:33 pm local time on Thursday, according to the reports.

16 Dead, 32 Injured in Powerful Earthquake

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake left 16 people dead and 32 injured. According to the report, 11 of the injured were in serious condition as of 2:25 am on Friday, while the remaining 21 suffered minor injuries. Authorities reported injuries in villages near the epicentre, while several houses developed cracks following the strong tremor. The earthquake struck a sparsely populated, high-altitude area in Nagqu, northern Tibet, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.

Data from the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) showed that the average elevation within five kilometres of the epicentre was around 4,864 metres.

Rescue Operations Underway as Aftershocks Continue

Local fire and rescue teams were mobilised to assist affected communities. Footage released by Chinese state media showed residents leaving their homes and taking shelter outdoors or inside parked vehicles. The earthquake was strongly felt across the surrounding region, with the epicentre located around 400 kilometres from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. Several smaller tremors measuring around magnitude 3 and 4 were also recorded in nearby areas following the main earthquake, according to the reports.

Rescue and emergency response efforts are continuing as authorities assess the damage.