5 injured, buildings damaged as moderate quake hits Sichuan

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled Gongxian county in Southwest China's Sichuan province at 10:17 am Thursday (Beijing Time), injuring five people and damaging some buildings.

The epicenter, with a depth of 8 km, was monitored at 28.41 degrees north latitude and 104.74 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

By noon, five people have been found injured from the quake, according to the county emergency management department.

The quake also peeled external walls off some buildings in the county seat and further damaged some buildings that suffered damage earlier in the 6.0-magnitude earthquake in mid-June.

The stronger earthquake hit Changning county in the province on June 17, killing 13 people and leaving 220 injured.

Landslides were reported near two villages in Gongquan township, disrupting road traffic.

The moderate quake also damaged two electric wires and caused power outages in over 400 households.

Local authorities are ordering the evacuation of people from buildings in danger.

Around 80 firefighters have been sent to the quake-hit regions, including Gongxian and Changning counties, to check if there are any further casualties and losses.

5.6-magnitude quake hits Sichuan: CENC

BEIJING -- A 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled Gong county of Yibin city in Southwest China's Sichuan province at 10:17 am Thursday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter, with a depth of 8 km, was monitored at 28.41 degrees north latitude and 104.74 degrees east longitude, the CENC said.

Diao Ping, Party chief of a residential community in Gongquan township, told Xinhua that no buildings collapsed so far in the quake.

Diao said two smaller aftershocks followed the quake.

Local authorities are checking the quake casualties and losses.