China struck by deadly earthquake

AN EARTHQUAKE with a magnitude of 6.7 has struck China’s northwestern border with Tajikistan, killing at least one person.

The affected area on China’s northwestern border. Picture: Google Maps.

AN EARTHQUAKE with a magnitude of 6.7 has struck China’s northwestern border with Tajikistan, killing at least one person, destroying houses and severing a railway line.

State news agency Xinhua says rescue teams in the Xinjiang region have been sent to help isolated communities on China’s mountainous border with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

1 person confirmed dead after 6.7-magnitude earthquake jolts Akto County, Xinjiang. Search and rescue underway pic.twitter.com/4HN6HxJoO1

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 26, 2016

Xinhua reported a villager in the county died when their house collapsed. Six houses were also found cracked or collapsed, the state news agency said, citing local authorities.

The China Earthquake Administration has activated a level III emergency response.

The US Geological Survey says the quake, with a depth of 75km, struck the area at around 10.24pm Friday night (local time).

#UPDATE: 1 villager found dead after M6.7 #earthquake jolted Akto County in northwest China's #Xinjiang on Friday pic.twitter.com/pRDwI110gb

— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) November 26, 2016

More to come.