BEIJING: A strong earthquake rattled southwest China on Sunday, knocking out communication and power lines and causing people to rush out of buildings, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.1 quake hit Yunnan province at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). The China Earthquake Networks Center said the magnitude was 6.5.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years. It reported that the quake loosened rocks that blocked a road near the city of Zhaotong and broadcast an image of a car apparently damaged by debris from the temblor.
China's official Xinhua News Agency said people rushed out of buildings as the quake hit. It also reported that the Yunnan provincial earthquake administration sent a 30-member team to the epicenter.
In September 2012, 81 people died and 821 were injured in a series of quakes in the Yunnan region.