M5.3 Earthquake Strikes Near Nagqu, China

Nagqu, China — A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck a remote stretch of the Tibetan Plateau early Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

What happened:

The quake hit at 3:39 a.m. Central Time on Saturday, October 24, 2026, centered about 223 kilometers (roughly 139 miles) east-northeast of Nagqu in the Tibet region of China. It struck at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers (roughly 6 miles) below the surface.

Impacts:

No reports of shaking felt in nearby communities have come in so far, and no tsunami threat was generated. The epicenter sits in a sparsely populated high-altitude region, far from larger cities.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on during shaking, and stay clear of windows and heavy objects.

- After shaking stops, check for hazards such as broken glass, gas leaks, and damaged wiring before moving around.

- Expect possible aftershocks and be ready to drop, cover, and hold on again.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 24, 2026.