China quake death toll 13

A STRONG earthquake has shaken a mountainous region in southwestern China near a famous national park, killing 13 people, injuring 175 others and knocking out power and phone networks.

At least five of the dead were tourists, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said. A further 28 people had serious injuries, according to the Aba prefecture government in Sichuan province.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for rapid efforts to respond to the quake and rescue the injured.