The State Council, China's highest governing body, Saturday sent a message expressing its deep concern and sincere solicitude for the quake victims in Yao'an County in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The State Council also expressed heartfelt thanks for those who are working there to help the quake victims, including the local officials and people, medical teams, and soldiers.

The message expressed the hope that the local residents will rely on themselves, unite as one, and work hard to keep losses to a minimum, and restore production and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.

The State Council is confident that the people in the quake-stricken area will, under the leadership of the local government and Party Committee and with the help of soldiers stationed there, surely overcome all the difficulties caused by the tremors.

According to China Seismological Bureau, earthquakes measuring 5.9 and 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked Yao'an County of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture at 06:09 and 07:37 today. The epicenter was located at 25.5 degrees north latitude and 101.1 degrees east longitude.

At press time, the quakes had claimed four lives and injured more than 370.