An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale hit Ludian County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 6:26 p.m. Tuesday, killing at least two and injuring more than 150.

The figures were released by Kong Chuizhu, vice governor of Yunnan Province at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday. More casualties and losses are expected.

According to the Chinese seismological monitoring network, the epicenter of the quake is located at 27.2 degrees north latitude, 103.6 degrees east longitude, some 255 km north of Kunming, capital of the province.

The epicenter was at Taoyuan Township. Nearby, Wenping Township,Yongfeng Township, Ciyuan Township and Shouwang Township were alsoshaken.

Among the affected areas, Wenping Township and Yongfeng Township were most seriously destroyed due to the dense population,said Huang Ling, an official with Zhaotong City.

Local hospitals in Ludian County have been overwhelmed by injured patients and some have to be treated in the courtyards.

Many civilian houses became too dangerous to live in, said Zhang Huakun, an official with Ludian County.

After the natural disaster, the province, city and county governments have launched emergency programs and organized severaltask forces to rescue and help the affected people.

A group of 34 seismologists have been dispatched by China Seismological Bureau from Beijing and are expected to arrived early Wednesday.

It was the third major earthquake to hit the Ludian County within a year. Two earthquakes measuring 5.1 and 5.0 on the Richter scale hit the county on Nov. 15 and 26, 2003. Four peoplewere killed and 120 were injured in the two previous earthquakes.

Ludian County, located in the east of Yunnan Province, is amongChina's poorest counties with a population of 370,000. The averageincome of the local peasants' was only 1,000 yuan (120 US dollars)last year.

Source: Xinhua