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Sichuan earthquake: Magnitude 6.5 tremor strikes central China Sichuan earthquake: Magnitude 6.5 tremor strikes central China
(about 1 hour later)
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck in a mountainous region of central China, the US Geological Survey reports.A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck in a mountainous region of central China, the US Geological Survey reports.
The quake struck in a sparsely populated area 200km (120 miles) west-northwest of the city of Guangyuan at a depth of 10km (6 miles), the USGS said. It had earlier put the quake at magnitude 6.6 and 32 km deep.The quake struck in a sparsely populated area 200km (120 miles) west-northwest of the city of Guangyuan at a depth of 10km (6 miles), the USGS said. It had earlier put the quake at magnitude 6.6 and 32 km deep.
Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. 
Five people have been killed and more than 60 injured, 30 of them seriously, the Sichuan government said.Five people have been killed and more than 60 injured, 30 of them seriously, the Sichuan government said.
Damage to buildings have been reported in a tourist resort and the official People's Daily said the dead were all tourists. Damage to buildings have been reported in a tourist resort and the official People's Daily said the dead were all tourists. 
There has been no confirmation of the people's nationalities so far but few foreign tourists go to such remote areas meaning the dead are likely to be Chinese. There has been no confirmation of the people's nationalities so far but few foreign tourists go to such remote areas meaning the dead are likely to be Chinese. 
The Sichuan government added that 100 tourists have been trapped by a landslide, but that there were no reports of any deaths or injuries among them yet. 
Spokesman Chen Weide said it was unclear what had happened to them and whether they had been buried or were trapped by a blocked road. 
The official Xinhua news agency said the reception area in a hotel had collapsed, trapping some people, but that 500 people had alreday been safely evacuated from the building. Other media reports quoted the hotel saying everyone had been evacuated safely. 
The Sichuan earthquake administration said the epicentre of the tremor was in Ngawa prefecture, largely populated by ethnic Tibetans, many of whom are nomadic herders, but also close to the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a popular tourist destination.The Sichuan earthquake administration said the epicentre of the tremor was in Ngawa prefecture, largely populated by ethnic Tibetans, many of whom are nomadic herders, but also close to the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a popular tourist destination.
Officials said on social media that more than 38,000 tourists were then visiting Jiuzhaigou. Officials said on social media that more than 38,000 tourists were then visiting Jiuzhaigou. 
The area is frequently struck by earthquakes.The area is frequently struck by earthquakes.
Pictures on state media-run social media sites showed some damage in Jiuzhaigou, with tiles having fallen from buildings and people gathering outdoors.Pictures on state media-run social media sites showed some damage in Jiuzhaigou, with tiles having fallen from buildings and people gathering outdoors.
State television cited a resident in a village near Jiuzhaigou as saying no buildings had collapsed where he was, but that there had been strong shaking and people had fled outdoors.State television cited a resident in a village near Jiuzhaigou as saying no buildings had collapsed where he was, but that there had been strong shaking and people had fled outdoors.
A police official told state television that there had been some panic among the tourists when the quake hit. A police official told state television that there had been some panic among the tourists when the quake hit. 
The official Xinhua news agency quoted a Jiuzhaigou tourism official as saying that some houses had collapsed or cracked and authorities were organising evacuations.The official Xinhua news agency quoted a Jiuzhaigou tourism official as saying that some houses had collapsed or cracked and authorities were organising evacuations.
Shaking was felt in the provincial capital Chengdu and as far away as Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors, according to users of Chinese social media.Shaking was felt in the provincial capital Chengdu and as far away as Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors, according to users of Chinese social media.
The China Earthquake Networks Center measured reported the quake at magnitude 7.0 and said it was 20km (12 miles) deep.The China Earthquake Networks Center measured reported the quake at magnitude 7.0 and said it was 20km (12 miles) deep.
The Chinese agency said the quake occurred around 9:20pm near Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations. The Chinese agency said the quake occurred around 9:20pm near Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations. 
A quake in Sichuan in May 2008 killed almost 70,000 people.A quake in Sichuan in May 2008 killed almost 70,000 people.
Additional reporting by agencies.