After Iran, a 5.0-magnitude quake strikes China

Nine hurt, power & communications network unaffected; 60-member rescue team rushed to affected area

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China's Yunnan Province today, leaving nine persons injured.     

The epicentre of the quake, that struck the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the province at 9:45 am, was located in the border area between Eryuan and Yangbi counties, with a depth of 11 km.     

Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau had confirmed nine persons being injured, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.     
A 60-member rescue team dispatched by the public security and firefighting departments has rushed to the affected area.     

Varying degrees of cracks have appeared in some houses, but electricity and communication have not been affected, said the work team dispatched by the earthquake bureau of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.

The Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau has dispatched 4,000 tents, 2,000 clothes and 1,000 quilts to the affected people while the provincial disaster relief and civil affairs authorities have dispatched a work team to the area.     

"We really felt the shake, which lasted a long time. Residents rushed out of their houses for shelter," said Xu Yuhua, a villager in Liantie town.     

Leading officials in Dali have also rushed to the affected area to guide rescue and relief work.

In March, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake injured 30 people in Eryuan.