The earthquake that jolted an area in southeastern Yunnan Province, southwest China, Thursday morning injured seven people and caused a direct economic loss estimated at 3.95 million yuan (about 476,000 US dollars), an official said on January 29.

The earthquake which measured 5.5 on the Richter Scale shocked a mountainous area between Qiubei and Mile counties inhabited by Miao, Zhuang, Hani and Yi ethnic groups.

About 19,000 people in 99 small villages were affected, and 3,900 homes were destroyed, the official said, adding that work on disaster relief is proceeding smoothly.

On January 15, two earthquakes measuring 5.9 and 6.5 on the Richter scale hit Yao'an County in Yunnan, killing five people and injuring another 1,544.