At least nine killed as quake hits China

A strong earthquake hit south-western China, killing at least nine people and causing hundreds of buildings to collapse, official media reported today.

At least 200 people were injured, 25 of them seriously, state television reported. The China News Service said more than 800 buildings collapsed.

The magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck at 11.16pm (4.16pm Irish time) yesterday in Yunnan province, about 1,400 miles south west of Beijing. A quake of magnitude 6 can cause severe damage.

The earthquake also damaged a local power station, the Xinhua News Agency said.

The quake was centred in the town of Tanhua and could be felt in the provincial capital of Kunming, 110 miles away, Xinhua said.

“There have already been two aftershocks,” said an official in Dayao County this morning.

Most telecommunications to the stricken area had been cut off, said the official, who would give only his surname, Li.