Strong quake hits southwest China, no casualties reported yet

No casualties have been reported since a 6.6-magnitude quake jolted a county in southwest China Tuesday night, said local officials.

The quake, with a focal depth of just five kilometers, was felt strongly in Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, which has a population of 290,000, according to an official with the county's publicity department.

Buildings kept shaking for several seconds. Residents have been evacuated to open areas, the official said.

Some phone calls to Jinggu went unconnected. Pictures posted on the internet show cracks on walls.

The China Earthquake Networks Center said the epicenter was monitored at 23.4 degrees north latitude and 100.5 degrees east longitude, which is about 67 km away from Lincang city and 85 km away from Pu'er city. Strong tremor was also felt in the provincial capital Kunming.

A 6.5-magnitude quake in Ludian, Yunnan, on August 3 killed more than 600 people.