Timber buildings, high forest cover and low population levels kept Jinggu quake casualties low

Quake-resistant timber buildings, well-preserved natural landscapes and low population density are key reasons for the low number of fatalities from Tuesday night's earthquake in Jinggu county, Yunnan province, according to local officials.

Just one person had died by yesterday afternoon from the 6.6-magtitude quake, which struck the remote, mountainous county at around 9.50pm Tuesday, Xinhua reported. The authorities said 324 people were injured.

The China Earthquake Administration had warned soon after the quake struck that casualties could "rise substantially" after more checks of the area.

The China News Service quoted Huangpu Gang , head of the Yunnan Seismological Bureau, as saying that most of the traditional homes in the area were made with quake-resistant timber frames.

In addition, over 70 per cent of the county was covered by forest, reducing deadly landslides.

Yunnan is particularly prone to quakes. In August, about 600 people died and more than 3,000 were injured when a 6.3-magnitude quake hit Ludian county, about 700km from Jinggu.