AT least 150 people have been killed and 180 others missing after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Yunnan Province yesterday.

    Houses and power lines were brought down as the quake — the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years — was recorded at a depth of 12 kilometers. The earthquake hit at about 4:30 p.m. and the epicenter was Longtoushan Township, 23 kilometers southwest of the county seat of Ludian, Zhaotong City.

    The quake toppled and cracked many buildings, particularly old ones and residential homes.

    Police and paramilitary officers were rushing to the quake-hit areas.

    Local civil affairs authorities were sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats to the region.

    Ludian has a population of 265,900 in its seven townships.

    Zhaotong, about 300 km from Kunming, capital of Yunnan, is on the earthquake belt and has been occasionally jolted by quakes.

    In September 2012, a 5.7-magnitude caused more than 80 deaths and injured more than 800 people.

    In 1974, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in the same place caused over 1,400 deaths.

    In 1970, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Yunnan killed at least 15,000 people and a 7.1-magnitude quake in the province killed more than 1,400 in 1974. In September 2012, 81 people died and 821 were injured in a series of quakes in the province.(Xinhua)