29 injured in Yunnan quake

KUNMING, May 30 -- Twenty-nine people were injured, including five in serious condition, after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted a county in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said Friday.

The quake hit Yingjiang County under Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong at 9:20 a.m. Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Tremors were strongly felt in the county seat, where residents rushed to open areas.

According to a statement from the provincial civil affairs department, the quake has cut off electricity in Kachang township and Mengnong and Sudian villages, though communications have not been affected.

The Yunnan government has initiated a grade II emergency response, sending work team of over 50 people for surveying, investigation and disaster evaluation.

Police have been sent to the township of Kachang, which is close to the epicenter, according to local publicity officials.

The provincial government sent tents, quilts, folded beds and mattresses to the disaster-stricken region.

Yingjiang borders Myanmar and has a population of 300,000.

Yunnan lies where the Eurasian Plate and Indian Plate meet, and the province is prone to quakes.

A 5.6-magnitude quake hit the same region a week ago, injuring at least 13 people.

In March 2011, the county was jolted by a 5.8-magnitude quake, leaving 26 people dead and over 300 others injured.