Second China quake in same area kills 3 and injures hundreds

BEIJING (Reuters) - A second earthquake in two days in the same county of southwest China killed at least three people, injured more than 100 and prompted the evacuation of over 120,000, state media reported on Friday.

The two quakes jolted western Yunnan province, south of mountainous Sichuan where a devastating quake on May 12 killed at least 70,000 people.

Thursday's tremor, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, hit Yingjiang county, bringing down houses and cutting electricity supplies throughout the region, Xinhua news agency (www.xinhuanet.com) said.

At least 20 people were seriously injured, it added.

A 5-magnitude quake hit the same county on Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. No casualties were reported.

Earlier this month, a strong earthquake rocked Sichuan and Gansu provinces, killing one person and injuring 23.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Nick Macfie)