Nine people were injured, including four in critical condition as of 11:30 a.m. after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit Zizhong County in Neijiang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 8:14 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said.
All the injured have been sent to hospital, according to the Neijiang emergency management bureau.
A total of 20 houses were reported collapsed, 11,968 households suffered power failure, and three mobile communication base stations were damaged.
More than 2,000 rescuers, including local police, emergency response forces, medical staff and firefighters are carrying out rescue operations and relocating victims.
After analyzing the geological structure and the focal mechanism, seismologists said it is unlikely that a larger earthquake will occur in the area in the coming days.
The epicenter was monitored at 29.59 degrees north latitude and 104.82 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 14 km.
