Shaking the Tibetan Plateau: Insights from the Mw 7.1 Dingri earthquake and its implications for active fault mapping and disaster mitigation
This study analyses the 2025 Dingri earthquake and its implications for active fault mapping and disaster mitigation. The Dingri earthquake on January 7, 2025, was a typical normal faulting event along the Dengme Co fault, with a surface rupture zone extending approximately 25 to 32 km. The maximum vertical slip reached up to 3 m, with a minor left-lateral strike-slip component. The disaster’s severity can be attributed to several key factors: strong ground shaking, significant liquefaction within the basin, distributed surface ruptures along the seismogenic fault affecting Changsuo and Cuoguo Townships, and the vulnerability of traditional Tibetan-style soil-stone houses.
To mitigate the risk of similar earthquake disasters on the Tibetan Plateau, the following measures are recommended:
- Active Fault Mapping and Geological Monitoring: Intensify efforts to comprehensively map active faults and identify unfavorable geological conditions.
- Structural Resilience: Improve the seismic performance of rural housing, particularly in high-risk zones, by promoting earthquake-resistant construction techniques.
- Secondary Disaster Prevention: Enhance monitoring and early warning systems for earthquake-induced hazards such as landslides and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Strengthen emergency response plans to address these threats effectively.
Explore further
