336 hurt as quake destroys 10,000 homes in China

Chinese state media said a moderate earthquake rocked south-west China today, injuring at least 336 people and collapsing 10,000 homes.

The Xinhua News Agency said the magnitude-6.0 quake centred in Yunnan province’s Yao’an county struck earlier this evening and damaged another 30,000 homes.

It said the quake was followed by eight aftershocks.

Xinhua said the provincial civil affairs department was sending 4,500 tents, 3,000 quilts and other relief materials to Yao’an.

It said hundreds of police were dispatched to the disaster zone.