One killed, six injured after earthquake hit China

One person died and as many as six others were left injured after two earthquakes hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Wednesday.

The quakes hit the province at around 5pm local time, AFP reported citing China’s earthquake agency, which added that rescue efforts are currently underway.

Furthermore, houses were damaged and rail services were partially suspended following the earthquake.

The Sichuan fire department said that more than 1,400 rescuers have been deployed in the region. The Southwest Railway Authority said some sections of track had been shut down, causing delays to passenger trains.

The epicentre was at a depth of 17 kilometres. The US Geological Survey said that the quake registered a magnitude of 5.9 and was more shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles).

Last year in September, as many as three people were killed and dozens other injured after a shallow earthquake hit Sichuan province – a quake prone region, damaging tens of thousands of houses.