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Three dead and dozens injured in earthquake in southwest China

Rescue work was under way following the magnitude 6.0 earthquake.

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Rescue workers walk near debris in the aftermath of the earthquake

Three people died and dozens were injured when an earthquake hit China’s southwest Sichuan province.

Rescue work was under way following the magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Thursday.

The quake struck at 4.33am in Luxian, a county in the city of Luzhou, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Residents stand near a damaged building in Luxian County in Sichuan Province
Residents stand near a damaged building in Luxian County in Sichuan Province (Yuan Bo/Xinhua via AP)

State broadcaster CCTV said 88 people were injured, three seriously, and that 35 houses had collapsed.

The epicentre was about 120 miles (200km) southeast of Chengdu, the provincial capital.

Xinhua reported that collapsed walls and houses could be seen on the way to the epicentre, and that electricity had been cut in much of Jiaming town. Residents could be seen cleaning up.

Rescue workers were going door-to-door in heavy rain searching for people in damaged homes in Fuji town to move them to temporary shelters, Xinhua said.

Injured residents at the Luxian People's Hospital
Injured residents at the Luxian People’s Hospital (Gu Youcong/Xinhua via AP)

Workers distributed mooncakes, a traditional treat for next week’s mid-autumn festival, and other food at one shelter.

Lai Jianrong, a Fuji resident, told Xinhua that she felt a mild tremor at around 4am and ran out barefoot in her nightgown when the tremors became intense.

“Some bricks fell off the wall and I didn’t dare to go in again,” the agency quoted her as saying.

More than 3,200 people have been moved to 79 shelters, CCTV said.

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