Earthquake kills one, injures 31 in SW China's Yunnan

A moderate earthquake in southwest China has killed one person, injured 31 and forced thousands of people from their homes, the government said Saturday.

The quake toppled 1,541 houses in Yunnan province. By 8 a.m. Saturday morning, 45,520 people had been relocated, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said. Of the 31 people injured, 10 are in a serious condition.

The quake, measuring 5.1 degrees on the Richter scale, jolted Yunnan on Friday noon, shaking buildings in Yanjin, Daguan, Yiliang and Suijiang counties. "Many houses collapsed, and water, electricity, communication, and transport facilities have been damaged," said the ministry in a short notice.

After the quake, the provincial civil affairs bureau delivered 400 tents, 16.25 tons of rice, as well as instant noodles and medicines to the quake-hit area.

The ministry said it had sent an additional 3,000 tents to the scene.

A similar quake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale hit Yanjin and neighboring Daguan county on July 22, killing 22 and injuring 106 people.

More than 1,400 houses - built on hillsides and vulnerable to natural disasters - collapsed.

Source: Xinhua