Moderate quake hits southwestern China; 2 injured

BEIJING – A moderate earthquake struck southwest China on Monday evening, causing some injuries and damage, state media said.

The quake measured at a magnitude of 5.2 hit near the Yunnan province town of Tengchong, 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) southwest of Beijing. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude slightly higher at 5.3.

The provincial Civil Affairs Bureau says at least two people were injured and several houses damaged, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Rescue crews and supplies of tents, quilts and clothing have been sent to the quake zone, but heavy fog shrouded mountain roads, making for slow going, Xinhua said.

The area near Myanmar has seen frequent seismic activity recently. A magnitude-5.8 quake in March killed 25, destroyed buildings and raised questions about whether structures had been built to code.

China's worst recent quake devastated Sichuan province in 2008, leaving 87,000 dead.