Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured as of Tuesday noon, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday (Beijing Time), Xinhua reported.

The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Xizang Military Command’s Xigaze Military Sub-command have been mobilized to head toward the epicenter.The sub-command is rapidly deploying personnel to the affected area to participate in rescue efforts.

As of 11:25 am Tuesday, a regiment of 160 personnel from the sub-command has reached Jijiao Bridge in Dinggye County, while a company of 40 personnel has been dispatched to areas near Dingri Airport.