Earthquake claims at least 21 lives in China

At least 21 people were killed when a strong earthquake struck southwestern China on Monday, state media reported, as violent tremors in a remote region damaged homes and left some areas without electricity, Report informs via France 24.

The magnitude 6.6 quake hit about 43 kilometres southeast of the city of Kangding in Sichuan province at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

Fourteen people lost their lives in Sichuan's Shimian county and seven died in nearby Luding county, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Tremors shook buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu -- where millions are confined to their homes under a strict Covid lockdown -- and in the nearby megacity of Chongqing, local residents told AFP.

"I felt it quite strongly. Some of my neighbours on the ground floor said they felt it very noticeably," said Chen, a resident of Chengdu.

"But because Chengdu is currently under epidemic management, people aren't allowed to leave their residential compounds, so many of them rushed out into their courtyards," she added.

At least one town had suffered "severe damage" from mountain landslides triggered by the quake, CCTV reported.

A road to another town was blocked and telecommunications lines in areas home to more than 10,000 people were severed, the broadcaster said, adding that shocks also forced some power stations offline in the areas of Garze and Ya'an.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in China's Sichuan province, China's Central Seismological Network said, Report informs via Xinhua.

The natural phenomenon occurred in the Ludin settlement of the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of the province. The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 16 km.

Information about losses and damages has not yet been published.