Hundreds of Homes Flattened in China Quake

China Map

Chinese officials say a shallow, 5.5 magnitude earthquake has hit southwest China, causing hundreds of homes to collapse and injuring about 20 people.

China's official Xinhua news agency says the quake struck a rural area in the southwestern province of Yunnan Sunday afternoon, destroying 700 homes and damaging a further 2,500 houses. There were no reports of fatalities.

Xinhua said the quake struck just nine kilometers beneath the surface.

The provincial earthquake bureau has sent a team to the quake area.