Multiple quakes hit northeast China

Village houses were damaged and power supply cut after three earthquakes measuring above 5 magnitude jolted the city of Songyuan in northeast China's Jilin Province since Friday afternoon.

Authorities are still verifying the casualties and economic losses after the latest 5.8-magnitude quake was reported at 6:04 a.m..

The China Earthquake Networks Center monitored epicenter of the quake at 44.6 degrees north latitude and 124.1 degrees east longitude, with a depth of nine kilometers.

The quake was followed by a 5.0-magnitude quake at 6:32 a.m., with the epicenter determined at 44.6 degrees north latitude and 124.1 degrees east longitude with a depth of about eight kilometers.

Previously, a 5.3-magnitude quake hit Songyuan at 4:18 p.m. on Friday. The three quakes were reported in the Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County or the border area between Qian Gorlos and Qian'an county.

The quakes have cracked a number of houses and forced rattled villagers out of their homes, villagers near the epicenter said. Some communities in the city also suffered from a blackout, authorities said.