Earthquake hits southwestern China, leaving 1 dead, 11 injured; 100 homes damaged

Earthquake strikes southwestern China, killing 1

BEIJING — A moderate earthquake jolted southwestern China on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 12 others, officials said. More than 200 houses were damaged or destroyed.

The quake struck at 5:37 a.m. (2137 GMT Saturday; 4:37 p.m. Saturday EDT) in Sichuan province and registered a magnitude of 5.2, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It said the quake was centered at a depth of 11.6 miles (18.6 kilometers).

The Sichuan provincial seismological bureau said all of the casualties occurred in the town of Moxi, near the epicenter, with a population of about 30,000 people. Three people were seriously injured, the bureau said.

It said the quake toppled 120 houses and damaged another 100.

A 30-member team arrived in Moxi to assist the local government, the bureau said.

Sichuan province is still rebuilding from a magnitude-7.9 quake that struck in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 people dead or missing.