HONG KONG — A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near one of Tibet ’s holiest cities Tuesday, killing at least 53 people, Chinese state media reported. The earthquake, which was recorded just after 9 a.m. (8 p.m. ET Monday), was centered at a depth of nearly 6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

As of publishing, there are at least 130 injured and more than 1,000 homes destroyed by the earthquake. Relief will be complicated and long in coming, because the local population mainly lives in small, isolated villages, at altitude, and therefore difficult to access.