An earthquake hit a mountainous area of southwestern China on Saturday, killing at least four people and injuring 10 others, the country's quake agency and state media said.
The quake shook a wide area Saturday morning, including scenic Shangri-La and Deqen counties in Yunnan province, and Derong county in Sichuan province, just to the north.
The China Earthquake Administration said the quake had a magnitude of 5.9, with the US Geological Survey saying it was 5.8.
The official Xinhua News Agency quoted the Yunnan Provincial civil Affairs Department as saying four people died in Deqen county.
The department said the quake also destroyed 600 residential units and damaged 55,500 others. More than 9,000 residents were forced to relocate.
Xinhua said telecommunications and electricity supplies were affected in Deqen and Derong, hindering rescue efforts.
China's mountainous areas in its southwest are prone to earthquakes. In May 2008, a powerful quake in Sichuan left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing. In April this year, another quake in Sichuan killed 193 people.
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| Rescuers and local residents help an injured woman (C) following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. An earthquake on August 31 hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
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| Rescuers run through a landslide area following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. The earthquake hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
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| Rescuers clear rubble from a road following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. The earthquake hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
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| Rescuers run through a landslide area following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. The earthquake hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
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| Rescuers and local residents take care of a baby following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. The earthquake hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
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| Injured residents queue up for treatment following an earthquake in Deqin county, southwest China's Yunnan province on August 31, 2013. The earthquake hit a remote part of southwest China near the popular tourist area of Shangri-La, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, state media said. |
