Strong tremors were felt in areas near China's border with Myanmar after a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country at 14:20 Friday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The quake happened at a depth of 30 kilometers, with the epicenter monitored at 21.85 degrees north latitude and 95.95 degrees east longitude, said the CENC.
Many areas in southwest China's Yunnan Province have felt the severe jolt, including the provincial capital Kunming, the popular tourist areas Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and Dali City, and Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture which borders Myanmar.
Ruili City in Dehong, located about 300 kilometers from the epicenter, felt a particularly strong shake, with reports of structural damage to many buildings.
In the city's Caifu Plaza, a high-rise building had some its facilities damaged, with debris and dust pouring down onto the street below.
People in the vicinity have moved to open areas for safety.
The city's power supply bureau has activated an emergency response to deal with the aftermath.
Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude quake strongly felt in China's border areas
Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude quake strongly felt in China's border areas
