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A rapid series of strong earthquakes hit China's Qinghai province early Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At least 67 people were killed, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the China Earthquake Administration.

Many others were feared buried under debris after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck at 7:49 a.m. local time (7:49 p.m. ET Tuesday), when many people were probably still at home.

A Chinese military official told Xinhua that the death toll was expected to rise given the damage to homes.

He said dispatched soldiers were setting up tents and transporting oxygen for the injured but affected roads leading to the airport could hamper relief efforts.

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The epicenter was located in a remote, mountainous area about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Qamdo, Tibet. Qinghai borders the autonomous regions of Tibet and Xingjiang and the provinces of Gansu and Sichuan.

The USGS also recorded two strong aftershocks -- of magnitudes 5.2 and 5.3 -- within half an hour of the quake.

Citing the China Earthquake Networks Center, Xinhua said the quake hit the county of Yushu, a Tibetan region of Qinghai with about 80,000 people.

It said residents near the epicenter reported casualties and collapsed buildings.

Karsum Nyima, deputy director of news at local Yushu TV, told Xinhua that most of the houses in the area were made of wood with earthen walls. He said some had come tumbling down, including a Buddhist pagoda in a park.

In 2008, 70,000 people died when a 7.9 earthquake rocked neighboring Sichuan province, northwest of its capital, Chengdu.