A shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 hit southwest China on Friday morning, the US Geological Survey said, with Chinese reports saying 29 people had been injured, five of them seriously.
The epicentre was in China´s Yunnan province, 65 kilometres southeast of Myitkyina, capital of Kachin state in northern Myanmar, USGS said, estimating the quake´s depth at 10 kilometres.
Shallow earthquakes can often cause greater damage than more powerful deep ones.
Chinese state media said the tremor hit Yingjiang county.
“Tremors were strongly felt in the county seat, where local residents rushed to open areas,” the official Xinhua news agency said.
“Police have been sent to the township of Kachang, which is close to the epicentre,” it added, citing local publicity officials.
Xinhua put the magnitude at 6.1, citing China´s earthquake authorities.
Many people posting on Sina Weibo — China´s version of Twitter — said the shaking lasted between six and eight seconds.
