At least four people are dead and the toll is expected to rise after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Xinjang region of China.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake took place in one of the “most seismically hazardous regions on Earth” and centered the quake 59 miles southeast of Yilkiqi, China.

“If many people are gathered in one place during an earthquake, it can lead to a serious disaster, but in this case, there were relatively few people so it isn’t so serious,” China Earthquake Networks Center researcher Sun Shihong told state broadcaster China Central Television.

Dozens are reported injured by multiple sources and the government reported thousands of homes and buildings in the region were damaged or destroyed.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs put the number of damaged homes alone at 3,000.

Over 1,000 tents are being sent into the region to provide temporary shelter for families who have lost their homes.