—An Interview with Xue Feng, a Cadre Assigned to Xizang by the Second Crust Monitoring and Application Center of China Earthquake Administration and Director of the Monitoring, Science and Technology Division of the Xizang Autonomous Region Earthquake Agency

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County, Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region (32.4°N, 93.79°E) at 22:33 on October 22, 2026, with a focal depth of 10 km. To support public science communication for earthquake relief in Xizang, our reporter interviewed Xue Feng.

Reporter: Could you tell us about the seismic intensity, destructive impact and scale of surface rupture of this earthquake?

Xue Feng: The Baqen magnitude-7.0 earthquake had a focal depth of 10 kilometers. It was a shallow earthquake. Seismic waves lost little energy while propagating upward to the surface, resulting in violent ground shaking. Intense shaking was recorded in the meizoseismal area covering Maru Township and Gangqie Township of Baqen County, where building collapses, casualties and property losses occurred, reflecting severe overall destruction.

Inversion results of the source rupture process show that this earthquake involved normal-fault rupture with a rupture duration of around 16 seconds. Combined with preliminary field surveys, the maximum slip on the fault reached 196 centimeters, and the seismogenic fault had a rupture length of approximately 50–60 kilometers. A surface rupture zone tens of kilometers long is inferred in the earthquake area. Emergency responders on site have observed ground fissures wider than a palm and at least 20 centimeters deep in Maru Township, the meizoseismal area, which directly demonstrates the severe surface damage caused by this shallow major earthquake. Field teams from the Xizang Autonomous Region Earthquake Agency are conducting ongoing special geological surveys to accurately verify parameters including the strike, extension length and dislocation of the surface rupture.

Reporter: Will this earthquake affect the crustal structure of Xizang and surrounding areas?

Xue Feng: This earthquake occurred on the eastern margin of the Qiangtang Block. It marks a local release of tectonic stress built up over a long period on the plateau, with an extensional focal mechanism consistent with the regional tectonic characteristics.

The earthquake mainly caused dislocation and deformation along local segments of the seismogenic fault and will not broadly alter the large-scale crustal framework of Xizang and its surrounding regions. Nevertheless, the earthquake has perturbed the stress state of local fault zones around the epicenter, which may raise the seismic risk of adjacent secondary faults. The Xizang Autonomous Region Earthquake Agency will continue crustal deformation monitoring to assess evolving regional stress adjustments.

Reporter: Did geological factors amplify the destructive impact of this earthquake in Baqen County, Nagqu City?

Xue Feng: With a focal depth of merely 10 kilometers, this was a shallow earthquake. Seismic energy travelled directly to the surface with minimal attenuation and produced strong ground motion. The epicentral area features rugged plateau terrain with large topographic relief and heavily weathered, fractured rock and soil. Seismic waves are amplified by topography and loose overburden, intensifying ground shaking. Active faults are widely developed across the region, and the seismogenic fault cut directly through the ground surface, inflicting intense destruction along its trace.

Meanwhile, some dwellings in plateau farming and pastoral areas have poor seismic resistance. Coupled with the geological factors outlined above, seismic damage was further amplified. This fully demonstrates the practical necessity of carrying out seismic retrofitting for rural houses on the plateau and installing seismic structural components such as ring beams and structural columns.

Reporter: Could you introduce the seismic situation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau at present and in the period ahead?

Xue Feng: Driven by the ongoing collision and compression between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is the most tectonically active zone in mainland China and prone to frequent strong earthquakes. Sustained plate convergence builds stress on numerous active faults within crustal blocks, creating the tectonic conditions for major seismic events. Historical records indicate that seismic activity on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau occurs in clustered episodes, yet the exact timing, location and magnitude of strong earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted at present.

The Baqen magnitude-7.0 earthquake was an energy release event within the Qiangtang Block. It does not signal an immediate cascade of large-scale strong earthquakes across the region, but the overall seismic risk of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau remains high. Earthquake prevention and disaster reduction must remain a constant priority.

The Xizang Autonomous Region Earthquake Agency will continue strengthening seismic monitoring across the region, improve cross-regional joint consultation and risk assessment, and dynamically track seismic trends. It will carry out sustained public outreach on earthquake preparedness and self-protection, and advance the implementation of building seismic reinforcement, emergency stockpiles and emergency drills. We will also submit seismic assessment findings to Party committees and governments in a timely manner to provide scientific support for local disaster prevention, mitigation and emergency response.

Reporter: Wang Chao

Translator: Ni Weijing

First Review: Liu Fang

Second Review: Drakpa Wangchen

Third Review: Hu Rongguo