The death toll in China’s earthquake has risen to nearly 400 in a mountainous and impoverished area of Qinghai province Wednesday, an emergency official said on state-run television.

The Xinhua News Agency reported 8,000 others were injured and many victims, including primary schoolchildren, were buried under debris.

The 6.9-magnitude earthquake, as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck at 7:49 a.m. local time (7:49 p.m. ET Tuesday), when people were probably still at home and schools were beginning the day. The USGS also recorded several strong aftershocks — one of magnitude 5.8 — all within hours of the initial quake.

Xinhua reported panic on the streets as crews launched rescue efforts in the rubble of collapsed buildings.

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

(Source: CNN)