China starts emergency-response to Gansu quake

（Xinhua）  11:17, July 22, 2013  

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The China Earthquake Administration has initiated an emergency-response plan against the quake which hit a juncture region of two counties in northwest China's Gansu Province Monday morning.

The emergency plan includes close monitoring of the quake and sending disaster-relief teams to affected areas, the administration said.

A 6.6-magnitude quake jolted the junction of the Minxian County and Zhangxian County at at 7:45 a.m. Beijing Time.

The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, is 170 km away from the provincial capital Lanzhou, according to the administration.

A 5.6-magnitude quake jolted the same area later at 9:12 a.m..

At least three people were killed in the quake, according to local authorities.