VIDEO: Earthquake hits southwest China

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Jiuzhaigou County in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 21:19 on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

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The CENC said that the epicenter was located 33.2 degrees north latitude and 103.82 degrees east longitude and measured a depth of 20 km.

Sangey, a staff worker at the popular Jiuzhaigou tourist site told reporters that some houses in the scenic spot collapsed and cracked due to the powerful quake and authorities are organizing people to help evacuate residents.

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Li Changyong, head of the health and family planning bureau in the Jiuzhaigou County, said the quake could be strongly felt in the region and many residents rushed outside their buildings. Li said currently there have been no reports of deaths and injuries.

The quake was also strongly felt in the provincial capital Chengdu about 300 kilometers south of the epicenter.