5.0-magnitude quake hits southwest China

KUNMING - A 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Tonghai County in the city of Yuxi, Southwest China's Yunnan province, at 1:44 am Monday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of 7 km, was monitored at 24.19 degrees north latitude and 102.71 degrees east longitude, the center said.

The provincial earthquake bureau has launched an emergency response and has sent a team of experts to the areas hit by the quake.

The quake was felt strongly and many people ran outdoors for safety as it struck, said a source of the county publicity department.

At least one person was injured and two houses were partly damaged in the quake, said the county authority for disaster reduction in a statement.