The death toll from a 6.3-magnitude quake that struck Kangding county of Garze in Sichuan province has climbed to five.
The earthquake struck around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at a depth of about 15 kilometers. Over 50 people were injured, according to state media, and around 25,000 houses were estimated to have been damaged in the disaster.
Xinhua reported yesterday that six of the injured residents are currently in critical condition.
The earthquake also caused a stampede at a primary school in Tagong, a town near the epicenter. A total of 42 young students were injured as they quickly fled the building at the time. CCTV video footage shows other residents rushing out of buildings on to the street as the quake struck.
Sichuan is a mountainous region prone to such natural disasters. An earthquake that hit the area in 2008 left over 87,000 people dead or missing.