Deadly Earthquake Jolts Northwest China

MOSCOW, July 22 (RIA Novosti) - A strong earthquake hit the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu on Monday morning, killing more than a dozen of people, China’s Xinhua news agency said.

At least 19 people were killed and 270 seriously injured, according to the latest figures.

Local authorities said numerous buildings were razed by the quake.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck at 3:45 Moscow time on Monday (23:45 GMT Sunday). The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, was 170 km away from the provincial capital Lanzhou, local authorities said.

A 5.6-magnitude aftershock followed about an hour later.

Soldiers and police have been dispatched to the quake-hit region to assist in rescue efforts.