18 injured at Yunnan quake leave hospital

More than half of the people injured from Saturday's earthquake in southwest China's Yunnan Province have been discharged from hospital, local authorities said on Thursday.

Of the 32 people injured, 18 have left hospital, while two men, aged 85 and 70, were still in critical condition, according to the information office with Yongshan County government.

One suffered a fractured leg and the other has a broken spine, the office said in a statement.

A 5.3-magnitude quake hit the county, with an epicenter 13 km deep, at 6:40 am on Saturday, affecting 71,200 locals.

The local government has handed out relief goods, like tents, quilts, coats, food and water, and provided temporary shelter.

A work team of experts from the provincial earthquake administration is inspecting areas prone to landslides, rockfalls and debris flow.

"The team has discovered 26 vulnerable spots and we are on high alert for potential geological hazards," said an official with the information office.

Yongshan County government has begun to draft a plan for reconstruction and sent officials and experts to quake-hit areas.