DOMINANT ANGLE
Bern relays a report that comes almost exclusively from Chinese state media: the Swiss press reports the Tibet earthquake, specifying at each stage who provides the figures.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
**Magnitude 7 earthquake on Thursday at 22**: 33 local time (16:33 in Switzerland): at least 16 dead, according to Chinese state media cited by Le Temps and SRF.
- 02
Le Temps reports 46 injured, including eleven serious cases, and 339 collapsed buildings, according to CCTV; SRF mentions 350 rescuers and 83 vehicles sent.
- 03
The epicenter, located by the USGS at shallow depth in Maru County (Baqen District), is at an average altitude of about 4,800 meters, according to Xinhua.
ANALYSIS
Berne, October 23, 2026. Switzerland's capital is following the aftermath of a magnitude 7 earthquake that struck a remote mountainous region of Tibet on Thursday at 22:33 local time (16:33 in Switzerland), resulting in at least 16 deaths. The information comes from Chinese state media. The region affected is described as a "Chinese-controlled region" by Swiss media.
The number of injured is reported to be 46, with eleven in critical condition and 35 less severely affected, according to CCTV citing local officials, and 339 buildings have collapsed. Alternatively, reports indicate more than 50 injured, eleven in critical condition according to Xinhua, over 330 houses damaged, and 20 stables destroyed. Both sources report that the government has sent 350 firefighter-rescuers and 83 vehicles, according to the available data.
Regarding the location, the epicentre is reported to be at a shallow depth, in the Maru county, Baqen district, approximately 190 kilometres from Nagchu and 390 kilometres northeast of Lhasa. Alternatively, it is reported to be around 180 kilometres northeast of Nagqu, at a depth of ten kilometres, in a sparsely populated area with an average altitude of 4,800 metres according to Xinhua. Several aftershocks have been recorded.
Both media outlets are following the directives from Beijing. Xi Jinping has called for "maximum relief efforts", and for searches to be carried out "with all available forces" and to minimize the number of victims. Images from CCTV show people fleeing restaurants and merchandise falling off shelves, as well as rescuers searching for signs of life in the rubble.
Additionally, the deputy head of the county, Lhawang Dagpo, is reported to have said that the quake was strongly felt in offices, where cracks appeared on the walls. It is also indicated that communication links are cut off in certain parts of the region. Both accounts remain factual and do not mention any independent verification on the ground.
