On 7 January 2025 at 09:05 CST (UTC+8), an earthquake measuring Mw 7.1 struck Tingri County, located in the Shigatse prefecture-level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of Southwestern China.

[8] Focal mechanism solutions indicate that the rupture occurred on a north-south striking fault, dipping moderately to either to the east or west.

[3] Seismologists at the China Earthquake Networks Center said the mainshock originated within the Lhasa terrane, a crustal block that forms part of the plateau.

[12] The China Earthquake Administration evaluated that the enture rupture occurred within 24 seconds, releasing a seismic moment estimated at 4.0469 × 1019 Nm.

[8] Surface ruptures were later mapped via satellite imagery; they occurred on the eastern shores of Dengme Co lake discontinuously for 11 km (6.8 mi).

A 411 km2 (159 sq mi) area was assigned IX including Changsuo, Quluo, Cuoguo, Nixia and Jiacuo townships.

Twenty townships across Tingri, Lhazi, Dinggye, Sakya and Angren counties were within the VII isoseismal band that was assigned to a 5,350 km2 (2,070 sq mi) area.

[19] A 2010 study in Geophysical Journal International observed within the past 43 years that 85 percent of the seismic moment released during normal faulting earthquakes occurred in areas of more than 4.5 to 5 km (2.8 to 3.1 mi) elevation.

Due to the lack of revisions, transparency, and censorship by the government, local Tibetans heavily criticized this figure, instead estimating 265 fatalities.

Chinese authorities refuted this figure as a rumor and imposed administrative punishment on some locals for spreading "misinformation" online.

On 11 January, Radio Free Asia reported more than 400 fatalities, an estimate they cited from staff working at morgues in Tingri and Lhatse counties.

[24] In Dramtso, 100 died,[33] including two nuns due to a convent collapse[34] and 30 more in Gurong village,[33] where all homes were damaged, half of them severely.

Strong shaking was felt near Mount Everest, including Lobuche and Namche, Thimphu in Bhutan, and the northern Indian states of Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal.

[17] Following the earthquake, more than 14,000 rescue personnel,[48] 340 medical workers,[49] 75 vehicles, four search dogs and 7,030 sets of equipment were dispatched to the epicentre.

Local officials also allocated resources from the transport, water and village administrative departments to aid in rescue efforts.

[62][63] By the evening, China Central Television reported that more than 400 people were rescued, 14 housing areas were established, and at least 30,400 were relocated.

[24] Missing numbers were expected but unknown, but experts believed that the chances of survival for those still trapped in the high-elevation and harsh environment were very slim after 48 hours due to hypothermia.

[67] Authorities opened the La'ang Reservoir in Changsuo Township in Tingri County as a precaution, resulting in the evacuation of 1,500 people from six villages downstream.

[69] The 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said he was "deeply saddened" over the earthquake and offered prayers for the victims.

[72] The Beijing-recognized 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, held a donation drive with around 900 monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse that raised nearly 1.5 million yuan ($208,660).

[73] Dawa Tsering [zh] Director of Tibet Policy Institute speaking to Voice of America, raised doubts about the number of casualties.

Similarly, Zeng Jianyuan at the Taiwan Association for Human Rights said there are strict communication control and censorship in Tibet, and information may be distorted.

[74] On 9 January, the Tibetan Review noted the unchanged casualty figures, and the State Council Information Office in China did not respond to queries by Reuters regarding the death toll.