More than 800 firefighters joined rescue operations in Jinggu county of Southwest China's Yunnan Province after the area was jolted by a 6.6-magnitude quake Tuesday night.

Rescuers set up tent for survivors after a 6.6-magnitude quake hit Jinggu county, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Sept 8, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

One person died and 324 others were injured after the quake occurred at 9:49 pm (Beijing Time), with a focal depth of five kilometers.

The firemen, with 132 fire vehicles and 35 sniffer dogs, have helped relocate 450 locals to safe places, said a statement from the Ministry of Public Security's fire department on Wednesday.

The team is also searching houses for survivors and helping build tents.

The People's Liberation Army Armed Police also arrived soon after the quake and transferred more than 680 people to safe places.

A total of 92,700 people in Jinggu were affected, and 56,880 of them have been relocated, said an official with the county's publicity department.

Jinggu, about 460 kilometers southwest of Kunming, the provincial capital, has a population of 290,000.

Yunnan has initiated the Class-I emergency response, the highest, sending rescue staff and materials to the affected areas.

On August 3, a 6.5-magnitude quake hit Ludian, also in Yunnan, killing more than 600 people.

The quake zone has experienced constant aftershocks. Power supply was cut in some towns, but traffic to the quake zone remains open.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)