After deadly 7.0 quake, Tibetans trying to help survivors reportedly turned away by Chinese authorities
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 23 Oct: A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Drachen County in Nagchu, occupied Tibet, late Thursday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens, as reports emerged that Tibetans travelling to the affected area to assist survivors were being turned back by local authorities.
The earthquake struck at 10:33 p.m. local time on 22 October. According to Chinese state media, more than 12,000 residents have been evacuated while more than 330 houses have collapsed or sustained damage. The reported death toll remained at 16, with 54 people injured as of 7 a.m. Friday, including 11 in serious condition.
The county is located approximately 400 kilometres northeast of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. The affected area lies at an average elevation of more than 4,800 metres, where temperatures are expected to fall to minus nine degrees Celsius over the coming days.
Chinese authorities have dispatched rescue teams and emergency supplies, including tents, prefabricated shelters, folding beds, quilts, stoves and clothing. Railway services through the affected region have been suspended while infrastructure is inspected, and rockfalls hampered access to some areas.
However, videos circulating on social media appear to show Tibetans from other areas travelling towards the earthquake zone to assist affected communities. Reports accompanying the footage say local authorities stopped some of those attempting to enter, reportedly telling them that conditions in the affected areas were not as severe as they believed.
The reported restrictions echo previous disasters in occupied Tibet, where authorities have reportedly limited Tibetan volunteers’ access to affected communities. Following the January 2025 earthquake in Tingri (Chinese: Dingri) and the severe flooding in Kyirong in August 2026, several media outlets reported that Tibetan volunteers and community-led relief groups faced restrictions while attempting to deliver aid.
Restrictions on access for independent journalists have also raised concerns about transparency. Limited access to disaster-hit areas makes it difficult to independently verify casualty figures, damage assessments and the broader situation on the ground, with information relying heavily on Chinese state media.
These restrictions have raised questions about the ability of Tibetans to organise independent relief efforts and the public’s access to reliable information during emergencies. The latest earthquake comes less than two years after the Dingri earthquake killed at least 126 people, according to Chinese state media. Rescue operations and damage assessments in Drachen County are continuing.
