Tibet quake: low temperatures and rockfalls main secondary risks, says Nyingchi authorities
Nyingchi city government warns that low temperatures and landslides from a magnitude-7 earthquake in Baqên County pose the main secondary risks. Officials outline safety measures including geological surveys, road monitoring, and setting up shelters away from dangerous slopes.
Nyingchi city government in Tibet said low nighttime temperatures and the risk of landslides, collapses and rockfalls triggered by seismic activity are the main secondary hazards from the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Baqên County on 23 October. The affected area has an average altitude of nearly 4,800 metres, and officials warned that scattered snow showers could create ice and hidden frost on shaded high-altitude road sections, posing dangers for relief vehicles.
At a press conference on 23 October, authorities outlined immediate priorities. Geological inspection teams will accompany rescue crews to examine slopes and roads along the rescue route. Any dangerous zones identified will be cordoned off and closed to both people and vehicles. All search, rescue and assessment work will avoid steep and highly unstable slopes to prevent injuries from falling rocks.
Relief shelters will be set up in open, flat areas away from hillsides and old or unsafe buildings, with a focus on keeping people warm. The transport department will monitor road damage in real time, clear blocked sections promptly and ensure roads remain open and passable.
The earthquake struck Baqên County, a remote area in Tibet, and the response is being coordinated by the Nyingchi city government. No casualty figures were provided in the briefing.