An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale struck overnight in south-western China, destroying some 18,000 homes, killing at least one person and injuring more than 300 others, state media reported Friday, according to dpa. The quake damaged another 30,000 homes near the epicentre in Yao'an county, Yunnan province, the official Xinhua news agency reported. At least 336 people were reported injured, including about 30 in serious condition, the agency said. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres below the ground and was followed by at least eight aftershocks. More than 300 soldiers joined hundreds of police and civilians in the initial rescue operation, state television said. The Yunnan provincial civil affairs department dispatched 4,500 tents, 3,000 quilts and other relief materials to Yao'an, the reports said.
