Chinese state media say a strong earthquake that struck eastern Tibet early Monday killed at least nine people, revising an earlier estimate of at least 30 deaths.

The Xinhua news agency says rescuers pulled the bodies of nine people from the debris of collapsed homes in Damshung (Chinese: Dangxiong) county (Gethar township). Xinhua said an earlier report citing a higher death toll was from "unauthoritative sources" and had not been confirmed.

The new report said rescuers estimate that the six-point-six-magnitude earthquake caused at least 147 houses in the area to collapse.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was a magnitude six-point-four and was followed by three strong aftershocks (of around magnitude five).

Xinhua said late Monday that soldiers, police and emergency personnel were rushing to the quake epicenter in Damshung, which has about 42-thousand residents.