A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Yunnan Province in Saturday evening. Photo:Xinhua

A nine-year-old boy was killed after 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Yunnan Province in Saturday evening, according to local authorities.

The boy was sleeping while a wall of his house collapsed, local authorities said. Eight others were injured in the quake.

The tremor was felt strongly at 6:20 pm in Jinggu County, Pu'er City. About 16 hours before, a 5.8-magnitude quake jolted the county.

The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

Xinhua reporters saw many local people rushing out of their buildings.

Transportation, telecommunications and power supply facilities have remained in operation.

According to figures released late Saturday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 14,000 people had been affected by the two quakes as of 10:00 pm, with 36 houses toppled and more than 3,400 damaged.