30 injured in SW China quake

Beijing, March 3 (Xinhua-ANI): The number of people confirmed injured by a 5.5-magnitude earthquake that hit southwest China's Yunnan Province on Sunday afternoon has risen to 30, local authorities have said. Latest statistics showed more than 2,500 houses were damaged and 700 others collapsed, but no human fatalities have been reported yet. The quake hit Eryuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture at 1:41 p.m.. The epicenter was in Xishan Township with a depth of 9 km. About 55,000 people in Eryuan were affected by the quake, said the Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Department. @ The department said 6,000 tents, cotton quilts and coats were being sent to the quake-hit area. Allocation of affected residents is under way. The China Earthquake Administration and the Yunnan Provincial government have initiated a grade-III emergency response. Some 34 aftershocks have been recorded after the quake. The Yunnan provincial government has sent a work team to the quake-hit area. (Xinhua-ANI)